Matsue Castle sightseeing boat hits bridge in Shimane

A sightseeing boat operating around Matsue Castle collided with the Ubeya Bridge in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, on the afternoon of October 26. The collision occurred shortly after the vessel departed from the Fureai Hiroba boarding point.

A 66-year-old boatman sustained injuries in the accident and was transported to a hospital; the extent of his injuries has not been disclosed. Ten passengers were on board at the time of the incident, but none were injured.

The Ubeya Bridge is a popular spot where boats must lower their roofs to pass through a narrow waterway approximately two meters wide. The Matsue City Tourism Promotion Corporation has suspended all boat operations for October 27 to investigate the cause of the accident, utilizing dashcam footage from the vessel.