The search for missing persons following the sinking of the tour boat Kazu I off the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido continued on May 9 using a high-performance underwater camera, although no new discoveries had been reported as of 8 a.m.

The Kazu I reported taking on water off the Shiretoko Peninsula on April 23 before disappearing. The boat was then found underwater about a week later. Of the 26 passengers and crew on board, 14 passengers have been confirmed dead, while the other 12 are still missing.

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) said The Nippon Salvage Co.’s research vessel Shinnichi Maru has deployed a remotely operational unmanned underwater vehicle since May 8 and is analyzing images and other data that have been sent. by machine.

Meanwhile, JCG Regional Coast Guard 1st Headquarters on May 8 released photos of the Kazu I captured by an underwater camera belonging to the Hokkaido Prefectural Police, which could not be recovered during of the May 3 search operation. The camera has since been recovered and returned. return to the prefectural police.

Nippon Salvage is preparing to deploy a separate vessel capable of carrying out saturation dives to some 120 meters depth where the Kazu I was last spotted. The search for missing persons by saturation diving should begin by the end of the month.

(Japanese original by Naoto Takeda, Tokyo Regional News Department)