Civic Group Leads Efforts over 1942 Undersea Mine Disaster

Ube, Yamaguchi Pref., Aug. 22 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese civic group leads efforts to collect the remains of those who died in the 1942 flooding accident at the Chosei undersea coal mine in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan.

The Japanese and South Korean governments have begun DNA analysis of remains collected from the site after the group requested such research.

"We've managed to reach the stage of DNA analysis through the efforts of citizens," said Yoko Inoue, 76, who represents the group to record the coal mine accident.

"We want the Japanese government to make a decision to lead the searches and recovery of remains from now on," she added.

The Chosei coal mine, which opened in 1914, was submerged after an abnormal inflow of water about 1 kilometer from the entrance Feb. 3, 1942, during World War II. The accident killed 183 people, including 136 from the Korean Peninsula.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]