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Drought conditions expose vehicle with corpse at dam in Nikko

A car containing a corse had recently become visible at Kawamata Dam due to drought conditions
A car containing a corse had recently become visible at Kawamata Dam due to drought conditions

TOCHIGI (TR) – Tochigi Prefectural Police believe a decayed body found in a vehicle at a dam on Tuesday in Nikko City could be that of a man who disappeared a decade ago, reports the Sankei Shimbun (July 20).

At 1:55 p.m., a male staff member on an inspection of the Kawamata Dam found the vehicle containing the body along a bank above the water’s surface. Due to recent drought conditions, the level at the dam has dropped significantly, making the car visible.

According to the Imaichi Police Station, the body, which was in a state of extreme decomposition, was clothed in a short-sleeve shirt. The gender and age of the person were unknown.

Police have traced the vehicle to a man from Saitama Prefecture, aged in his 50s, who went missing in July of 2006.

Police are now working to confirm the identity of the body.

According to the Kinugawa Integrated Dam Control Office, the water level at the Kawamata Dam is down by about 15 meters from the average observed between 2013 and 2015.