HOKKAIDO, JAPAN — A Japanese tour boat has disappeared off Japan’s northern coast. The coast guard verified the death of a kid found late Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths to 11.

Except for orange flotation devices drifting on a rocky area along the difficult shoreline, nothing has been found of the ship, the “Kazu I,” which departed harbor on Saturday with 24 passengers, including two children, and two crew members.

On Monday, the search was continued with the use of planes and patrol boats, with local fishing boats from the port of Utoro also being deployed, according to media reports. Searchers also hiked along the shoreline’s rocky cliffs.

According to the Kyodo news agency, the boat was the first tour boat to sail in the area this season.

The waves were strong in the area on Saturday, according to media sources, and fishing boats that left early in the morning came late because of the open sea. 

On Saturday, the boat mysteriously disappeared several hours after leaving for a tour of the Shiretoko Peninsula, which is known for its rocky coastal landscape and wildlife. Just before contact was lost, the boat operator called to report that it was taking on water and listing at a 30-degree angle.

On Sunday, officials from the Ministry of Transport were dispatched to the area to coordinate operations, and Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito also made a visit, requesting that all necessary measures be done, including identifying the cause of the accident.

Drift ice can be observed in the area’s water as late as March, according to local officials, and the water temperature is presently 2 to 3 degrees Celsius.

A local fisheries official said that “Just a few minutes in that kind of water will start clouding your consciousness.” – WhatALife!

Source: (reuters.com)

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