One dead, several missing after cargo ship collides with yacht off southern Japan

One person is confirmed dead while several others have been reported as missing following a collision between a cargo vessel and a yacht off the coast of Oita prefecture in southern Japan on Wednesday, August 13.

Local authorities first learned of the incident when the captain of a 492-ton gravel carrier informed the Japan Coast Guard that his ship had just collided with a yacht near Hoto Island on the morning (local time) of Wednesday.

Shortly after receiving the incident report, the coast guard despatched six vessels and a fixed-wing aircraft to the area to conduct search and rescue (SAR) operations.

A coast guard spokesperson said one individual, identified as a 70-year-old male, was found unconscious in the surrounding waters at around 10:00 and was later brought to hospital. Tragically, this individual went into cardiac arrest before eventually being pronounced deceased.

The SAR effort near Hoto Island was still ongoing as of Wednesday afternoon.

The coast guard said the exact number of people who were on the yacht at the time of the incident is unknown.