Authorities have recovered the bodies of seven men, three women, and one child from the Kazu 1, a Japanese tourist ship carrying 26 people that sank Saturday.
The search for surviving passengers and the ship itself continued Monday as investigators seek to determine what caused it to sink, which happened during rough weather near the Kashuni Waterfall, home to a rocky coastline and fierce tides.
FIVE PEOPLE AND DOG FOUND DEAD IN MICHIGAN SUSPECTED MURDER-SUICIDE
“We will thoroughly investigate what caused this situation and what kind of safety oversight was involved to allow the tour in order to prevent another accident,” Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito told reporters on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.
The 11 bodies were found roughly 14 kilometers (about 8.6 miles) from where the vessel sent out a distress signal claiming its ship was sinking at its bow, the outlet reported. The child found on Sunday was a 3-year-old girl, and her parents are still missing, according to the outlet. Another child was also aboard the tour boat, but there have not been reports about that child’s status.
A few orange flotation instruments from the ship were found nearby as well, but, so far, there are no reports of survivors. Waves were high in the area, and temperatures were hovering around freezing, making the odds of survival low.
Authorities didn’t arrive on the scene in time after the distress call was sent because the closest rescue vehicles were 150 kilometers away, according to Reuters.
Kazu 1 was taking the 26 passengers on a tour of the peninsula, which is known for its wildlife and scenery, and went missing several hours after it left on its trip. The ship is believed to have been the only one in the area when it began sinking.
Shiretoko Pleasure Cruise, the operator of the ship, reportedly had at least two accidents last year. The Transport Ministry said it will investigate the company’s safety standards and its decision to continue Saturday’s tour despite the poor weather conditions, according to the outlet.
The cruise offers a three-hour tour of the peninsula and advertises the opportunity to see whales and dolphins to its prospective customers. Saturday’s tour was the first by Shiretoko Pleasure Cruise this season, according to the Associated Press.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
As a result of the Kazu 1 sinking, Japan has ordered tour companies to undertake emergency inspections of their vessels, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara told reporters Monday.
The crew of another operator warned the Kazu 1 not to embark on Saturday’s tour amid the treacherous conditions and told a local outlet that the vessel ran aground last year.
