A deputy mayor in western Japan died after being crushed under a giant float during a local parade, officials said Monday, just a week after two others were reportedly killed at separate traditional festivals.
Akihiro Nabae, deputy mayor of the city of Saijo in the Ehime region, was carrying a giant float alongside other participants on Saturday when he became trapped beneath it, according to city and police officials.
He was rushed to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, local media reported.
Makoto Hagiyama, deputy director of a local police station, told AFP that the exact circumstances leading to the fatality remain under investigation, including whether the heavy structure fell or if the official lost his balance.
Local media outlets indicated that eleven floats were lined up side by side when a massive weight of up to three tonnes came crashing down upon Nabae.
Organised by local shrines, the annual Saijo festival is celebrated as an ornate and vibrant event featuring a procession of large floats decorated with sculptures representing flowers, birds, and warriors.
This traditional observance dates back to Japan's Edo period, spanning from 1603 to 1868, and is traditionally held to thank local deities for an abundant grain harvest.
The tragedy follows other recent incidents involving festival floats in Japan. Two people reportedly died the previous Saturday during separate festivals in western Osaka when floats toppled over as participants attempted high-speed turns, while another fatal crush occurred at a traditional festival in February.