The first four people were located after 5 a.m. Japanese time and were transported in an unconscious condition for medical treatment, a coast guard spokesman said. Five other people were discovered later in the morning, according to a statement from the coastguard which did not mention their state of health.
Despite forecasted bad weather, the “Kazu I” set sail on Saturday morning to sail along part of the Shiretoko Peninsula, a preserved natural area to the northeast of the large northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.
Rough seas, two children on board
The crew had sent out a distress call at 1:13 p.m. local time, reporting that the boat was sinking, with its bow tilted at 30 degrees. The coastguard arrived on the scene only after three hours and an intense search has been going on ever since. The police, Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and local fishermen are also taking part in the operations, both sea and air.
The Kazu I was carrying two crew members and 24 passengers, including two children. All were wearing life jackets but the waters in the region are currently very cold, with a daytime temperature of just two or three degrees.
The sea was also rough at the time of the accident: fishing boats in the vicinity had returned to port before Saturday noon due to high waves and strong wind, according to a local fishing cooperative quoted by the agency. of Japanese press Kyodo.
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