Five people, including one Japanese, who were visiting Brunei Darussalam as part of the activities of the government-sponsored Ship for Southeast Asian Yourht Program, have been killed in a traffic accident involving their bus Sunday morning, the Cabinet Office said Sunday. At the time of the accident, which also injured nine others, 15 participants in the program were on the bus, the Cabinet Office officials said.
Among the dead were Akiko Shinohara from Japan and four others from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, they said.
Nobuhiko Suzuki, a high school teacher from Japan was injured in the accident.
Upon receiving the news, the Japanese government sent an officer to the Southeast Asian country to find out details about the accident.
In the youth exchange program, about 346 participants -- about 40 from Japan and about 280 from seven Southeast Asian countries of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam live together on board for about 60 days and visit participating countries.
Activities on board include discussions, cultural introductions, sports, recreation and club activities.
The program started in 1974 based on a joint statement issued that year by Japan and Southeast Asian countries.
Eleven of the 15 members, who were involved in the accidents were leaders of the program in their respective countries.