4 People Rescued From Sea After Boat Accident
The Japanese Coast Guard is searching for a sightseeing boat that went missing in waters off Japan's northernmost prefecture.
The Coast Guard says early Sunday morning it rescued four people believed to be from the 26 who were on board.
The officials say the four were all unconscious when they were sent to a hospital. They were spotted off the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido prefecture.
The search and rescue operation was launched on Saturday afternoon, after the Coast Guard received a distress call from the vessel. The boat was reportedly taking on water.
The vessel was cruising near the peninsula at the time.
A person aboard the vessel said the boat was listing at an angle of about 30 degrees and could not move on its own. The individual indicated that the engine had stopped.
Boats and aircraft from the Coast Guard and Self-Defense Forces were dispatched for the search.
The vessel, named the Kazu One, is a 19-ton tour boat. It was carrying 24 passengers, including two children.
It had two crewmembers. The operator said it left its home port Saturday morning on a three-hour excursion.
The skipper planned to cruise around Cape Shiretoko, so the passengers could observe wildlife. The peninsula is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.
Everyone onboard was reportedly wearing life jackets.