Search Continues For Missing Tour Boat And People On Board
The Japan Coast Guard is braving bad weather and sea conditions in search of passengers and crew of a tour boat that went missing off Hokkaido, northern Japan.
The boat, named "KAZU I," went missing on Saturday during a cruise along the Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
It was carrying 24 passengers, including two children, and two crew members. Eleven, including a 3-year-old girl, have been found dead.
The Japan Coast Guard has deployed patrol vessels and aircraft for an extensive search.
Fishing boats and other smaller vessels are not engaged in search efforts on Wednesday, as strong winds and high waves are forecast to continue in the area due to a low pressure system.
The coast guard says that as of 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, it has yet to obtain fresh clues leading to the discovery of those who are missing.
The head of the boat's operating company is scheduled to give a news conference on Wednesday afternoon for the first time since the accident.
The coast guard plans to investigate whether the company's safety measures were appropriate.
Also on Wednesday, local residents visited a facility in Shari Town where the victims' remains are being kept to offer flowers. The boat had set sail from a port in the town.
A woman in her 60s said it is heart-wrenching to think about the missing 15 people still left in the frigid sea.
She said she is frustrated by the irresponsible acts of the boat's operator. She added that the operator must be held responsible in facing the concerned families.
A local tour guide in his 70s said he came to pray for the victims after he heard that a small rucksack containing snacks was found during the search. He added that he hopes that the dead girl's parents will be discovered soon.
Shari Town said the remains of one victim from Fukuoka Prefecture in southwestern Japan and two others from Saga Prefecture, also in southwestern Japan, were handed to their bereaved families on Wednesday morning.