However, the exact number of fatalities remains unknown because some victims managed to obtain passage on the ship at the last minute, and others canceled their tickets just before the incident occurred.

Typhoon Marie, which had previously blown through Honshū, was in the Sea of Japan at 12:00 on September 26, 1954, heading northeast with wind speeds of more than 100 km/h (62mph).

However, due to the expected storm, another ferry— Dai 11 Seikan Maru, a somewhat poorer quality vessel— could not depart on her scheduled journey to Hakodate.

At 19:01, Tōya Maru lowered its anchor near Hakodate Port to wait for the weather to clear up again.

However, due to high winds, the anchor did not hold and Tōya Maru was cast adrift.

The now uncontrollable sea liner ran aground onto Nanae Beach, on the outskirts of Hakodate.

[3] The sinking of Tōya Maru was one of the major factors behind the construction of the Seikan Tunnel between Hokkaidō and Honshū.