Two men die as festival floats overturn in Osaka prefecture
In short
Two men died after danjiri festival floats overturned in Izumisano and Izumiotsu on October 10, Japanese outlets reported. Several reports put the combined injury toll at 16, while Sankei Shimbun's headline gave 17.
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Two men died after danjiri floats overturned during festivals in Osaka prefecture on October 10, according to Japanese news reports. The accidents occurred in Izumisano and Izumiotsu. Nikkei, Tokyo Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun and TBS NEWS DIG reported that 16 other festival participants were injured across the two incidents. [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 15 ]
The first accident occurred at an intersection in Nagataki, Izumisano, around 11:00, the reports said. Jiji Press gave the time as about 10:55. A 51-year-old company executive from Izumisano died after the float overturned. TBS NEWS DIG reported that eight men were taken to hospital, including the man who died, and that two of the seven survivors had serious injuries including fractures. [ 11 , 15 ]
The second float overturned at an intersection in Miyacho, Izumiotsu, around 13:20. A 48-year-old company employee from Izumi died after being trapped underneath it. Nine other men were injured. Jiji Press reported that their lives were not in danger and that no spectators were injured in the two accidents. [ 11 , 15 ]
Police said both floats appeared to lose balance during right turns in the manoeuvre known as yarimawashi, in which participants run while pulling the float through a sharp turn. According to Nikkei, both men who died had been serving as weights for the floats during direction changes and were on the right-hand sides at the time. Police are investigating the circumstances. [ 7 , 11 ]
The injury counts are not consistent across the reports. Several accounts put the combined total at 16, while a later Sankei Shimbun headline gave 17. Reports focused on Izumisano variously gave seven or eight injured, with the Mainichi Shimbun article text giving seven. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 10 , 15 , 20 , 21 ]
Why it matters
Police are investigating the circumstances of the two accidents. Jiji Press reported that spectators were not injured.
Key facts
- Danjiri floats overturned at festivals in Izumisano and Izumiotsu on October 10. [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 15 ]
- A 51-year-old man died in Izumisano and a 48-year-old man died in Izumiotsu. [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 15 ]
- Police said both floats appeared to lose balance while making right turns. [ 7 , 8 , 11 ]
- Police are investigating the accidents. [ 7 , 8 , 11 , 15 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The reported injury totals differ. Several reports give 16 injured across the two accidents, but Sankei Shimbun's later headline gives 17. Reports on Izumisano differ between seven and eight injured.