Two students die when boats capsize in Japan
Monday, March 16, 2026
On Monday, two boats carrying 21 people total capsized at Henoko Bay, Nago, a U.S. military base relocation site in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Officials said all of the passengers went into the water, and the captain of one of the boats and a female passenger perished. Additionally, two others were hurt; their injuries were not life threatening.
Rescuers aided people in the water. The Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) said 18 of those who were on the boats were classmates from a high school in Kyoto. The boats were named the Heiwa Maru and the Fukutsu, carrying ten and eight students onboard, respectively.
The JCG stated that the case is under investigation.
Sources
[edit]- 2 dead, including teen girl, after boats carrying students capsize near site of new U.S. military base in Japan — CBS News, AFP, March 16, 2026
- Mari Yamaguchi. 2 dead after 2 boats carrying students capsize off US base construction site in southern Japan — ABC News, AP, March 16, 2026