
SAPPORO: Ten people were confirmed dead Sunday after a tourist boat with a total of 26 passengers and crew aboard went missing in rough waters the previous day off a World Heritage site on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, the country's coast guard said.
Aircraft and vessels dispatched by the Japan Coast Guard and the Self-Defense Forces continued with rescue efforts following the 19-ton Kazu I losing contact after reporting it was taking on water around 1.15pm (11.15am Bangkok time) on Saturday. The 24 passengers aboard included two children.