2 confirmed dead after students swept out to sea off southwestern Japan

Two people were confirmed dead Saturday during a search for students who were swept offshore while swimming off Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan the previous day, local media reported.



According to the coast guard, the two, identified as Haruki Shitaebisu, 17, and Takahiro Takemoto, 14, were found offshore near Terushima Beach in Ichikikushikino City on Saturday morning, Kyodo News reported.



On Friday afternoon, four junior and senior high school students were swept out to sea off Ichikikushikino City, with one junior high school boy rescued soon after.



The students reportedly jumped into the sea from some rocks.



The area they were in is believed to have been off-limits for swimming, and the sea was rough with high waves at the time, the report said.