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Saitama prefectural officials have placed ropes on the surface of the Arakawa River in an effort to prevent people from drowning or being swept away.
According to prefectural officials, every summer, the town of Nagatoro overflows with tourists seeking to enjoy some leisurely time along the Arakawa River. Officials estimate that at least 1 million tourists come to the river each summer for swimming, kayaking or to enjoy barbecues on the riverbanks.
However, in recent years, there has been an increase in water-related accidents.
Until recently, no accident prevention measures had been taken.
On July 17, town officials, police and firefighters stood near a rocky area of the river near where many drowning deaths occurred in the past, and installed a series of life-saving rope systems along the river, NHK reported.
The ropes are tethered to a rocky crag in the river. Many people often climb the rocks and then jump into the river. The ropes, which span the river, are meant to help anyone who gets caught in a current. They will be able to grab onto the ropes and pull themselves toward the crag, or to the riverbank.
© Japan Today
3 Comments
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JeffLee
No lifeguards? Gimme a break, do it right and get lifeguards.
Stringing ropes seems pretty "chuto-hampa" to me, especially when human lives are involved.
serendipitous
Hopefully people won't start getting tangled in the ropes.....
Magnus Roe
It's a river. Not a pool. People swim along large stretches of the river, having lifeguards wouldn't be feasible, but it would be very costly.