A coolant leak from an Orion Breweries facility in Nago, Japan, caused a startling discoloration of the coastal waters, turning them a vibrant shade of red. Residents awoke Tuesday to the alarming sight, prompting concern and swift action from the brewery.

Orion Breweries issued an apology, attributing the discoloration to propylene glycol, a food-grade additive used in their cooling system. The company explained that the coolant leaked into a rain gutter and subsequently flowed into a nearby river, ultimately reaching the ocean and causing the dramatic color change.

The vibrant red hue in the waters off Nago, Okinawa, was a result of a brewery coolant leak. (First Regional Coast Guard Headquarters)

The leak was contained by mid-morning, and Orion Breweries pledged to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Local health authorities stated that the propylene glycol posed no significant environmental threat, echoing the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's classification of the substance as generally safe for use in food.

Nago, Okinawa, is a popular tourist destination known for its beaches. This image captures a golfer during the Kanehide Miyarabi Open in 2021.

This incident occurred in Nago, a city renowned for its pristine beaches and thriving tourism industry. Okinawa, the island where Nago is located, welcomed 10 million visitors in 2019, highlighting the potential impact of this event on the region's image.