Search For Missing Boat Passengers Continues Off Hokkaido
A search operation using an unmanned submersible is continuing on Monday to find people who went missing after a tour boat sank off Hokkaido, northern Japan, last month.
The "KAZU I" sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula during a sightseeing cruise on April 23. Of the 26 people on board, 14 have been confirmed dead and 12 others remain missing.
The boat currently lies on the seabed at a depth of 120 meters.
Following the search on Sunday, the crew of a salvage company's vessel returned to the site early on Monday to continue the operation using the submersible.
The Japan Coast Guard says no new clues had been found about the whereabouts of the missing as of 11 a.m. They say the search will continue during the daytime.
Specialized divers are expected to join the operation by the end of May to detect if anyone was trapped inside the boat. The company also plans to conduct a probe to salvage the vessel.