Three crewmembers found dead in hold of cargo ship anchored off Okinawa Prefecture

Japanese authorities are presently investigating the deaths of three cargo ship crewmembers who were found lifeless on board their vessel while it was anchored off Okinawa Prefecture.

The three male victims were found by their fellow crewmembers in the hold of the Panama-flagged Apollo Kita on November 9.

The victims were later rushed to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Investigators are considering the likelihood of the men having suffocated in the hold due to lack of oxygen.