3 confirmed dead after students swept out to sea off south-western Japan

Three people were confirmed dead on Aug 29 during a search for students who were swept out to sea in Kagoshima Prefecture, south-western Japan, the previous day, the Japan Coast Guard said.The coast guard identified two of the three as Haruki Shitaebisu, 17, and Takahiro Takemoto, 14, while the identity of the third person is still being investigated.Shitaebisu’s brother, Kensei, 13, remains missing.The search began after two students got into difficulty in the sea off Ichikikushikino on the afternoon of Aug 28 and two others reportedly jumped from rocks into the water to try to save them.All four were swept out to sea, according to the coast guard.One of the four, a 12-year-old junior high school boy, was rescued soon afterwards, while a fifth student, who had not been swept away, called for help. KYODO NEWS