Two passengers died after boats carrying high school students capsized off the coast of Camp Schwab in Okinawa Prefecture on March 16.

The incident occurred off the coast of Henoko, where land reclamation work is underway as part of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station.

21 people, including students from Kyoto who were on a school trip, were thrown into the sea.

The Japan Coast Guard rescued all passengers but a 17-year-old female high school student and a male captain in his 70s were later confirmed dead at the hospital. 

Two others sustained injuries to their heads.

The capsized vessels are normally used by civic groups protesting the construction work in Henoko.

The Japan Coast Guard is investigating the details of the incident.