9 People Found After Boat Accident
The Japanese Coast Guard is searching for a sightseeing boat that went missing in waters off the country's northernmost prefecture.
The Coast Guard says they've found nine people believed to be from the 26 who were on board.
The officials say at least eight people were unconscious when they were sent to a hospital. They were spotted off the Shiretoko Peninsula in the eastern part of 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 while cruising near the peninsula.
One person aboard the vessel reported that it 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 says the vessel left its home port Saturday morning on a three-hour excursion.
The meteorological agency says waves were three meters high in the area at the time of the distress call. The agency had issued advisories for high waves and strong winds.
A crew member of another boat operator said, "We were aware of sea conditions getting worse, so I told the captain not to go. He said yes, but he just went ahead and left the port."
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.