Surviving students return to Uwajima

UWAJIMA, Japan — Appearing sad and tired, nine teenagers who survived a fatal collision between their fishing vessel and a surfacing U.S. submarine off the coast of Hawai‘i returned home to Japan yesterday.

Students from the Ehime Maru were greeted by family and friends at Matsuyama Airport near their hometown of Uwajima yesterday on their return from Honolulu. Yomiuri Shimbun photo

The students from Uwajima Fisheries High School had been on a two-month training cruise when their 174-foot vessel was rammed by the nuclear-powered sub as it practiced a surfacing maneuver Friday. Nine people are still missing.

Reunited with their families, the teenagers filed into their school in this rugged port town yesterday, as teachers welcomed them and held back a crowd of reporters.

"I almost cried when I saw them because they are still young kids," said lawmaker Koichi Yamamoto, who spoke with the students when they arrived at Osaka’s airport from Honolulu.

Twenty-six people were rescued within an hour of the accident. After they were brought to safety, some survivors vomited diesel fuel they swallowed while adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Others were treated for hypothermia.

"Half of the kids are complaining about insomnia," said teacher Shunichiro Toya. "Some are still suffering from nausea and skin rashes."

The students had an exhausting trip home, starting with a flight from Honolulu to Osaka, then a flight to Matsuyama — where they were met by their parents — then a two-hour bus ride to Uwajima.

"I feel really relieved that they’ve come back, but there are still students missing," said Vice Principal Kazumitsu Joko, looking exhausted and bleary-eyed himself. "I still hope that the second group will make it home safely."

The families of the Japanese men and boys who remain missing — four students, two teachers and three crew members — remained in Honolulu yesterday as the search continued.

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