242 dead or missing across Japan in water disasters this summer

Water-related accidents left 242 people dead or missing across the country in July and August, the third consecutive year-on-year increase, according to the National Policy Agency.

In a preliminary report on September 13, the NPA said the number of accidents at sea, in rivers and other waters rose to 488 in the two months, 35 more than the previous year.

601 people were involved in these cases, 33 more than in the previous year. The number of 242 dead or missing is an increase of six.

The agency urges people to wear life jackets while in the water or fishing.

The number of accidents involving middle school students and younger children was 68, 19 more than the previous year.

These incidents affected 105 children, one less than the previous year. The number includes 18 deaths, two more than the previous year.

117 of the dead and missing died from sea monsters, 88 on rivers and 20 on waterways.

Okinawa Prefecture accounted for 13 of these people, the highest number of all prefectures, followed by Tokyo, Toyama and Fukuoka prefectures with 11 people each.

Accidents on the mountain

In a separate report, the NPA said the number of mining accidents nationwide fell to 660 in July and August, 78 fewer than the previous year.

Nevertheless, it was the fourth highest number since records began in 1968.

A total of 736 people were involved in the accident, 73 fewer than the previous year. 52 of them died or were missing, nine fewer.

Nagano reported 116 accidents, the highest number of any prefecture and accounting for nearly 20 percent of the total.