Ten people have been confirmed dead on a missing tour boat which sunk off Northern Japan on Saturday.
The victims were taken to hospital, but according to reports, they did not survive.
Average sea temperatures in Shiretoko National Park at this time of year are just above freezing.
Searches of northern Japan continued on Sunday with a total of ten people discovered near the tip of Shiretoko Peninsula.
Japanese TV station NHK reported initially reported they were unconscious.
But Japan's coastguard today reported the 10 found in the Shiretoko Peninsula were taken to hospital, but did not survive.
The ten people, out of a total of 26 occupants, were discovered north of where the boat sent a distress call on Saturday.
It is known to be a difficult location for vessels because of its jagged rock coastline.
The Evening Standard says the same tour boat had a similar accident in the area last year.
One of the survivors was shown on NHK being transferred to an ambulance on a stretcher by helicopter.
Those involved in the rescue held up shields to allow victims privacy.
A lifesaving float with the boat’s name was also seen on the coast as rescuers continued their mission.
When the boat began sinking after it took in water, it was carrying 24 passengers, including two children and two crew members.
Almost 19 hours has been spent searching for the missing occupants since its distress call.
The search and rescue mission used six patrol boats in addition to several aircraft and divers. with coastguard officials saying it continued into the night.
The 19-tonne Kazu 1 had a crew which belonged to another operator.
It claims it warned of stormy seas and advised crews not to go.
The Mirror told yesterday how its two crewmen on board warned its bow had flooded and the boat was tilting at a 30-degree angle.
Of those on the boat were two were children - with all said to be wearing life jackets.
Fishing boats had been returning to port due to bad weather at the time.
A local fisheries cooperative said high waves and strong winds were reported in the area around midday.
The boat can accommodate as many as 65 people, according to the website of its operator Shiretoko Pleasure Cruise.
It adds that tours in the area usually take around three hours.
Experts have suggested the boat is have run aground after being hit by stormy seas which led to damage to the vessel and flooding.
Tour boats of this size do not carry lifeboats which would have been worse in high seas with 26 people on board.
