Two people died while 10 others suffered injuries after a cargo ship collided with a recreational fishing vessel off the coast of Mie Prefecture in central Japan on Friday, February 20.
The Japan Coast Guard said the incident occurred off Toba City at around 12:55 local time on Friday when the 499-ton cargo vessel Shinsei Maru struck the smaller Kosei Maru, causing the latter to break apart and capsize.
Kosei Maru's captain and the 12 passengers were all thrown overboard. According to the coast guard, all 13 of them had already donned lifejackets by the time their vessel capsized.
Two passengers aged 84 and 67 suffered cardiac arrest and were immediately evacuated to hospital but were later pronounced deceased.
The five crewmembers on Shinsei Maru meanwhile suffered no injuries as a result of the collision.
The coast guard has since arrested Shinsei Maru's second officer, who was reportedly at the helm when the incident occurred. He is being detained on suspicion of negligence.
