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Japanese garbage island moves towards US

Report

Entire houses, bodies, car parts, tractors and many upturned boats have amassed¹ off the east coast of Japan on an epic² scale.

The floating objects have been declared a maritime³ hazard by the American Navy, which warned they could pierce the body of a boat, or destroy engines in the Pacific's shipping⁴ lanes.

The island of debris⁵ of most concern, 110 kilometres long, is being closely monitored by the US Navy's seventh fleet, as experts predict it could hit Hawaii's shores in two years and the American west coast a year later.

Hawaiian scientists put it bluntly. They warned that a vast mess that originated in a few moments of destruction in Japan, could eventually foul⁶ beaches and reefs off the Eastern North Pacific and kill marine⁷ life.

The American Navy's working with civilian⁸ construction companies from the earthquake-hit country, as huge cranes and boats are deployed⁹ to clear the seas of this vast bobbing mass of wreckage¹⁰ of household furniture, wood, tyres, fishing equipment and other garbage, sweeping¹¹ eastwards¹². 

Mark Lobel, BBC News