Five Japanese dead and two missing as fishing boat capsized in cold waters

A fishing boat capsized in waters north from Japan, killing five crew members and leaving two others missing, the coast guard said Wednesday.

The No.3 Shinseimaru was found about 40 kilometers (25 miles) off the cape of Nosappu in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, said coast guard spokesman Takatoshi Nagasaki.

One crew member was rescued but the bodies of five others were found trapped in the overturned vessel, Nagasaki said, adding that the coast guard has sent patrol ships, a helicopter and a plane to search for the two missing.

He said the weather around Nosappu was clear and the ocean was calm.

Kyodo News agency said that the 19-ton ship left a port in Hokkaido Tuesday morning but did not return at 4 a.m. Wednesday as scheduled and could not be reached by radio, reports the AP.

P.T.