HONOLULU (AP) — Activists and researchers sailing from Japan to Hawaii to look for tsunami debris found a truck tire, part of a boat and a straw floor mat.
They’re confident large waves generated by last year’s magnitude 9.0-earthquake off Japan washed the three items into the ocean but they can’t be sure.
Marcus Eriksen, executive director of the 5 Gyres Institute, led the expedition that set sail from Yokohama last month.
He said Tuesday in Honolulu the items were found in an area where scientists predicted ocean currents would carry tsunami debris.
The boat’s hull has a ship’s name written in black Japanese script.
Eriksen says he’s asking contacts in Japan to help him find the boat’s owners.
