On board were 24 passengers, including two children, as well as the captain and a crew member. All were wearing life jackets. Rescuers spent the night searching for survivors from the air and by boat in the water that is only two to three degrees Celsius.
File image of the ‘Kazu I’.
ANP / EPA
Nine people have been found severely hypothermic, the lives of others are feared.
ANP / AFP
The captain reported around noon on Saturday that the ship was listing and in danger of sinking. After that there was no more radio contact. According to authorities in the nearby town of Shari, waves in this part of the Sea of Okhotsk were high. Due to the rough seas, many fishing boats returned to port early on Saturday. The meteorological service had warned of an approaching low pressure area with increasing winds.
Shiretoko is a popular excursion destination due to its drifting ice and has been a World Heritage Site since 2005. It is home to many rare species of animals and plants.