Ten people found by rescue workers after a tourist boat disappeared in cold waters off Japan’s northernmost island have been confirmed dead, the Coast Guard said.
Authorities continued their search for patrol boats, planes and helicopters for the other 16 people – including two children – who were aboard Kazu I when he ran into problems Saturday off the Shiretoko Peninsula in northern Hokkaido.
Nine of those found were in the water or on nearby rocks, the Coast Guard said.
Drift ice can be seen in the sea around the area only in March, and the water temperature will be around 2 ° C to 3 ° C at this time of year, said an employee of a local fishing cooperative. “Just a few minutes in this kind of water will start to cloud your mind,” he said.
The area is famous for its wildlife and mountains, and boats carry tourists along the coast to spot brown bears.
The Kazu I crew warned the Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon that water was flooding the ship. About an hour later, they contacted the boat’s operating company to say it was tilting at a 30-degree angle, Kyodo News reported.
The Coast Guard said it was unclear what happened to the boat. No one was available for comment at the company that operates Kazu I. High waves and strong winds were observed around noon on Saturday, Kyodo said.
Kazu I was the first tourist boat to operate in the area this season, the news agency reported. In May last year, it collided with a floating object, injuring three people, and in June stranded in shallow water shortly after leaving port, Kyodo said.
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