RESCUERS in Japan today searched for a sightseeing boat carrying about 30 people that sent a call warning it is sinking off the north coast, said coastguards and local media.

A coastguard official said rescuers have “set up a task force to tackle the incident” and look for the missing, but declined to confirm any other detail of the reported incident.

National broadcaster NHK said Kazu 1 crew told coastguards that the boat’s bow was flooded and the vessel was sinking off the Shiretoko peninsula in northern Hokkaido.

The crew and passengers are wearing life jackets, but the distress call said the vessel is “tilting about 30 degrees”, it added.

The coastguards reportedly lost contact with the vessel, and search helicopters arrived in the area about four hours after the distress signal was sent.

The Shiretoko Peninsula is a world heritage site designated by Unesco in 2005 and is known for its unique wildlife, including the endangered Steller’s sea lion, as well as migratory birds and brown bears. – AFP, April 23, 2022.