All ten people found so far from a Japanese tour boat missing off the country's northern coast have been confirmed dead, with 16 others still missing, Japan's coast guard has said.
The boat went missing yesterday with 26 people on board during a cruise off the main northern island of Hokkaido.
Search and rescue operations were continuing for others still missing from the Kazu I, which sent a distress signal yesterday saying it was sinking in the frigid waters off Japan's northeastern coast.
The sightseeing boat with 24 passengers, including two children, and two crew on board said its bow was flooded.
The coastguard sent seven vessels and five aircraft for the search and rescue mission, joined by police and military helicopters as well as other local fishing boats.
The Shiretoko Peninsula was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 2005. It is well known for its unique wildlife, including the endangered Steller sea lion, as well as migratory birds and brown bears.
Sightseeing boat trips in the area are popular for visitors hoping to spot whales, birds and other wildlife, as well as drift ice in the winter.
Japan's borders remain closed to tourists because of Covid-19 rules, so sightseeing in the country is effectively limited to residents and Japanese citizens.
Conditions yesterday were rough, with high waves and strong winds that reportedly prompted some local fishing boats to return to shore early.
The daytime water temperature in the area was around two to three degrees Celsius.
The Kazu I ran aground in shallow water in June last year, becoming stranded with 21 passengers and two crew members on board, according to Japanese media.
The boat was able to leave the shallows on its own and returned to the port, but police investigated its captain for endangering traffic by negligence in the conduct of business.
Japan's coastguard has been involved in a variety of search and rescue missions around the archipelago, including the successful discovery last November of a 69-year-old man who spent 22 hours drifting in open water off southwestern Kagoshima.
In September 2020, a cargo ship with 43 crew onboard sunk after being caught in a typhoon off Japan's southwest coast.
Two survivors were rescued, while a third crew member was found unresponsive and declared dead. The search operation was called off a week later.
