TOKYO, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- A large festival float carrying people toppled over in Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan on Friday, killing one person and injuring at least 18, according to local authorities.
Police said they received an emergency call at about 8:45 a.m. local time on the day, reporting that a 3-meter-tall festival float toppled over during an annual festival held by Hirose Shrine in Izunokuni City, and people fell off.
Nineteen males aged from 6 to their 70s were sent to a hospital, and according to Izu Chuo Police Station, a man in his 70s was confirmed dead.
The police station said at the time of the incident that multiple people were riding on the float as others pulled it using ropes. It was believed that the operators lost control of the vehicle on a gentle downhill slope.
According to a 28-year-old man who works for Izunokuni's tourism association, the float was reportedly one of six being paraded through different districts in the city for the festival before gathering at Hirose Shrine. ■