Komatsu special needs school boy found dead at nearby waterfall after day-long search
Ten-year-old boy from Komatsu special needs school found dead at a nearby waterfall after daylong search; school apologized and police are investigating.
A 10-year-old Komatsu special needs school boy who disappeared from his classroom on June 30 was found dead on July 1 at a waterfall about one kilometre south of the school, authorities said. The child, a fifth-grade student, went missing during morning classes and did not return after saying he needed to use the toilet, prompting an overnight search that ended with the discovery. School and emergency officials confirmed the death and said they would cooperate with police as investigations proceed.
Discovery at the waterfall and confirmation
Firefighters who entered the water below the falls signaled to colleagues shortly after 11:00 a.m. on July 1, leading to the retrieval of the child from the flow, officials said. Emergency crews at the scene performed a check and the boy was pronounced dead soon afterward. Police and prefectural medical authorities will determine cause and time of death after conducting standard examinations.
Timeline of the disappearance at the school
According to school officials, the student left his classroom at about 11:00 a.m. on June 30 after asking to go to the toilet and did not return within several minutes. Teachers began searching the school and nearby grounds roughly ten minutes later when they could not locate him, and by noon reports indicated that a child had been seen near the waterfall area. The boy’s absence persisted through the night, prompting a larger search effort the following morning.
Search operation and terrain that complicated efforts
Search teams assembled at 5:00 a.m. on July 1, drawing on local police, fire department personnel, volunteer firefighting brigades and K-9 units to comb the mountainous woodland behind the campus. The school sits in a valley and is surrounded by steep, wooded slopes, which officers said focused the search to the south where tracking dog alerts and trail signs suggested movement. Crews waded along riverbanks and inspected walking paths and farm plots that connect the school property to adjoining land.
Conditions at the waterfall and safety warnings
The waterfall area, identified by responders as 十二ケ滝 and locally accessible by a path, features multiple channels that drop approximately four metres into a pool, authorities said. Signs near the water advise lifejacket use and warn that the plunge pool can be treacherous and prone to sudden undertows. Emergency sources noted that the area’s combination of shallow approaches and hidden currents can make it deceptively dangerous for children and those unfamiliar with the terrain.
Security checks at the school and unlocked exits
After the child’s disappearance, school staff discovered that one emergency exit door was not locked and that an external dial-type fence lock on a route leading through agricultural land was also open. A teacher who had returned from the fields about 20 minutes earlier told the principal they had secured the doors, but the school acknowledged uncertainty over how the gates and dial lock came to be open. Principal Shinji Segawa issued an apology and said the school would thoroughly review its locking procedures and supervision protocols.
Official responses and next steps for investigation
Principal Segawa expressed remorse for the loss and described the incident as an unacceptable tragedy, pledging to strengthen measures to prevent recurrence. Komatsu City and prefectural education officials said they would assist police inquiries and convene a review of school security and student monitoring, particularly for institutions serving children with special needs. Police confirmed they have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boy’s disappearance and recovery and will coordinate with the medical examiner.
Community members and parents gathered near the school and the waterfall area as authorities continued to secure the site and examine routes leading from the campus. Local officials have also indicated plans to review signage and access restrictions around the falls to reduce hazards and discourage unsupervised approaches.
The prefectural police urged anyone with information about the boy’s movements or who may have seen him near the school or along paths toward the waterfall on June 30 to come forward, noting that even small details could help clarify the timeline. The school said it would offer counseling services to students and staff affected by the incident and would communicate updates on any procedural changes once they are finalized.
