[Gunma] “We were left behind on an island while playing in the river．” The water level of the river rose due to sudden rain． Firefighters and other rescuers rushed to the scene， and all 30 men and women were safe．
At around 1:30 p.m. on the 15th, a man called 119 from the Yubiso River in Yubiso, Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, saying, “I got left behind on the sandbar while playing in the river.” Fire departments and prefectural police were dispatched, and about an hour and 10 minutes later, all 30 men and women aged between 5 and 49 who were on the sandbar were rescued by boats and other means. No one was injured. According to the Gunma Prefectural Police Numata Station and other sources, the 30 people were tourists who had come from within Gunma Prefecture, Saitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, and other areas. The incident occurred on an island about 1.5 kilometers north of Yuhiso Station on the JR Joetsu Line, and was apparently a popular spot for families to play in the river. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, 20 to 30 mm of rain fell in the area near the site and upstream in the hour from noon on the same day. Police believe localized rainfall caused the river level to rise rapidly.
The reason why the people in the Kurokura River drowning accident couldn’t be saved was because the rescue team was incompetent, right?
Many people criticize the victims, saying that it was their own fault, but evacuation and rescue are two completely different issues. Even small children died. They were left behind on the island and they couldn’t help them at all. I think Japanese rescue teams are incompetent. They’re like a developing country. Many years have passed since then, but have their rescue capabilities improved?
The source of the Yubiso River is the Tanigawa mountain range, and it’s a rocky mountain and the distance to the source is short, so the water level rises quickly.
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