Danjiri float overturns at Sakai festival intersection; 11 men injured
In short
A danjiri float being hauled through a local festival overturned at an intersection in Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on the evening of Oct 3, injuring 11 men aged 17 to 64, who were taken to hospital. Police said the float failed to complete a turn at the intersection. All those hurt were conscious when transported, and police are investigating the circumstances.
Read the full story 1 min read
A danjiri festival float overturned at an intersection during a local festival in Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on the evening of Oct 3, injuring 11 men. According to the Sakai City fire department, the men, aged 17 to 64, were injured and taken to hospital, and all were conscious at the time they were transported. The Osaka Prefectural Police’s Naka-Sakai station said a local danjiri festival was being held that day, the Asahi Shimbun reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Police said the float was being hauled along when it failed to complete a turn at the intersection and toppled over. Nippon TV News said the float was attempting a left turn, while TBS NEWS DIG said it was trying to turn east. The reports gave no cause beyond the failed turn, and police were investigating the circumstances, according to Nippon TV News and Livedoor News. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The injured men fell from the float or were otherwise hurt, suffering bruises to the head, chest and lower jaw, Nippon TV News reported, citing the fire department. A man who saw the accident said no one was pinned under the float and that everyone was conscious. The Asahi Shimbun put the accident at about 19:35, while the other outlets said it happened shortly after 19:30. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
TBS NEWS DIG described the injuries as minor in its headline, a characterisation the other outlets did not use; they reported only that the men were injured and hospitalised. The documents do not say how many people were riding on or pulling the float, or whether the festival continued after the accident. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The accident injured 11 participants at a local festival and led police to open an investigation into how the float was being hauled. The documents do not say whether festival organisers or local authorities plan any changes to how such floats are operated or how injuries will be compensated.
Key facts
- The accident happened at about 19:35 on Oct 3 at an intersection in Fukai-Sawacho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, according to the Asahi Shimbun; other outlets said shortly after 19:30. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Eleven men aged 17 to 64 were injured and taken to hospital, according to the Sakai City fire department. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- All of the injured were conscious at the time they were transported, the fire department said. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Police said the danjiri failed to complete a turn at the intersection and overturned. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- A local danjiri festival was being held in the area that day, according to the Osaka Prefectural Police’s Naka-Sakai station. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The injured men fell from the float or were otherwise hurt, suffering bruises to the head, chest and lower jaw, according to the fire department. [ 3 , 4 ]
- A witness said no one was pinned under the float and that everyone was conscious. [ 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A danjiri float overturned at an intersection in Naka-ku, Sakai, on the evening of Oct 3 during a local festival. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Eleven men aged 17 to 64 were injured and taken to hospital. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- All the injured were conscious when transported, according to fire officials. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Police said the float failed to complete a turn at the intersection. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Which direction the float was turning. TBS NEWS DIG says the float tried to turn east at the intersection, while Nippon TV News says it tried to turn left; the two descriptions do not match.
- How serious the injuries were. TBS NEWS DIG’s headline describes the injuries as minor, a characterisation the other outlets do not use; they say only that the men were injured and hospitalised.
- What caused the float to fail to complete the turn. The documents give no cause and say only that police are investigating the circumstances.
- Police are investigating the circumstances of the accident. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A danjiri float being hauled at a local festival overturns at an intersection in Fukai-Sawacho, Naka-ku, Sakai; 11 men are injured. Other outlets put the time shortly after 19:30. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Asahi Shimbun publishes its report, citing the Sakai City fire department and the Naka-Sakai police station. [ 1 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG publishes its account the following morning. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV News publishes a report including witness testimony and footage of the overturn. [ 3 ]
- Livedoor News republishes the national broadcast account, and Nippon TV News issues a further headline on the same incident. [ 4 , 5 ]