Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2015 September 9 - 15 [US FORCES]

270 US blank cartridges scattered around road

The governments of five cities and one town located close to the U.S. Yokota base as well as the Tokyo metropolitan government on September 9 lodged a protest with the base and the Defense Minister of Japan over an accident in which a U.S. military vehicle dropped and scattered a live round and 269 blank cartridges outside the base the previous day.

A liaison council consisting of Tokyo Metropolis, Musashimurayama, Tachikawa, Akishima, Fussa and Hamura Cities, and Mizuho Town complained that the incident caused great fear among many citizens, and requested that measures be taken to prevent a recurrence.

The council expressed its regret over the lax handling of dangerous materials. Safety management of hazardous materials was called for just two weeks ago following the explosion-caused fire at a U.S. supply depot in Sagamihara City in Kanagawa.

Fussa Police on September 8 received an emergency call from a resident living near the Yokota base, reporting that many small objects are being scattered on a road. They were found to be blank cartridges the U.S. military used at the Yokota base and they fell on the way to a disposal facility, according to police.

Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud sound at around 10:30 a.m. that day and saw a military track stop in the middle of an intersection. After the vehicle drove away, there was ammunition scattered on the road.

Past related articles:
> Fire occurs at US base in Kanagawa’s residential area [August 25, 2015]
> US helicopter drops blank ammo rounds on schoolyard in Shizuoka [July 23, 2015]