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Two people, including a 17-year-old high school student, have died after two boats carrying 21 individuals capsized off Okinawa, Japan, on Monday. The incident occurred near Henoko, a controversial site for a US military base relocation.
Eighteen of those on board were students from a Kyoto high school, participating in a peace education programme to observe the Henoko area. Ten students were on the Heiwa Maru, and eight on the smaller Fukutsu.
Japan Coast Guard rescuers pulled all 21 from the water. However, a 17-year-old female student and the Fukutsu’s captain were later pronounced dead. Two others sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Coast guard officials confirmed the accident’s cause is under investigation.
The boats were about a kilometer (half a mile) east of Henoko when they capsized. A wave advisory was in place during the accident, but the water was not very rough and there was no sign the boats collided, officials said.
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Aerial view of the US Kadena air base in Kadena, Okinawa prefecture, southern Japan, 25 February 2022 (JiJi Press)
Persistent protests and lawsuits between Okinawa and Tokyo have held up the relocation plan of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a crowded neighborhood on the island for nearly 30 years.
Henoko is a popular destination for activists opposing the relocation, but the students were not protesting, officials said.
Okinawa is home to about half of the 50,000 American troops stationed in Japan under the bilateral security pact. Many Okinawans complain about risks of accident, noise, pollution and crime associated with U.S. bases.
AloJapan.com