Two members of the Ground Self-Defense Force perish during a training exercise in Oita Prefecture.
In a tragic incident, two members of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) lost their lives during a training exercise at the Hijudai maneuver area in Oita Prefecture, southwestern Japan. The incident occurred on Sunday, during an infiltration drill, when a lightning warning was active throughout the prefecture.
The deceased soldiers, Kento Tanitsu (25) and Ayu Kubota (21), were part of the Ground Self-Defense Force and were playing the enemy role without weapons during the exercise. They failed to respond to a radio call, and they were later found in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest in the maneuver area shortly after midnight.
Autopsies conducted on the deceased revealed that they had died from electrocution caused by lightning. No surface wounds were found on the soldiers, indicating that the electrocution may have occurred internally.
The Ground Self-Defense Force has established a committee to investigate the incident. The committee will aim to understand the circumstances leading to the electrocution and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Western Army Tank Unit, from which the deceased soldiers hailed, expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and to their colleagues. The GSDF also extended their sympathies and offered support to the affected individuals.
[1] Source: NHK World News [2] Source: Asahi Shimbun [3] Source: Kyodo News [4] Source: Yomiuri Shimbun [5] Source: Mainichi Shimbun
