2 Dead in Henoko Boat Capsizing Incident Near New U.S. Base

Two boats carrying a total of 21 individuals capsized off Henoko on Monday, resulting in two fatalities and injuries to others, according to officials. The victims were students from a Kyoto high school who were observing the Henoko area as part of their peace education program.

The Japan Coast Guard rescued all 21 people from the water but pronounced a 17-year-old female student and the captain of Fukutsu dead later on. Two individuals sustained injuries, which were not life-threatening.

A high-wave advisory was in effect for Okinawa at the time of the accident, which occurred around 10 a.m., an official told Agence France-Presse. The teenager who died was wearing a life jacket, according to another coast guard official.

The cause of the accident is currently under investigation by Coast Guard officials. Despite the wave advisory, the water conditions were not rough and there were no signs of boat collisions, officials said.

Okinawa has been home to about half of the 50,000 American troops stationed in Japan since the early 1990s. Many Okinawans have long opposed the U.S. military presence due to concerns over accidents, noise, pollution, and crime associated with the bases.