NHK has learned that delivery of soil to the planned relocation site of a US Marine Corp base in Okinawa will resume on Thursday. Work has been suspended following a fatal accident during transportation.
In June, a dump truck carrying soil accidentally killed a security guard and injured a protester of the relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within the prefecture.
Japan’s Defense Ministry suspended soil transportation after the incident.
The prefectural government is demanding the Okinawa Defense Bureau of the ministry to find out what caused the accident as well as to prevent a recurrence.
The bureau says it will take measures that make protesters unable to enter roads.
The roads near the site are managed by the prefecture. The bureau cites protesters’ activities, including the disruption of truck drivers, as among the reasons behind the accident.
The bureau has asked the prefecture to call on people not to disrupt truck movements and install guard rails near the relocation site.