Two missing after cargo ships collide in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea

Japanese news outlet NHK reports that two people have gone missing after two cargo vessels collided in the Seto Inland Sea in western Japan on Thursday, February 2.

Japan Coast Guard officials confirmed that the limestone carrier Seiryu (pictured) sank shortly after it collided with the cargo vessel Koei Maru in the waters off Imabari in Ehime Prefecture at around 19:30 local time on Thursday.

Three sailors from Seiryu were subsequently pulled out of the water with one of them later transported to hospital to be treated for hypothermia. However, rescuers have yet to find any trace of the two remaining crewmembers, one of whom is the ship’s captain.

No injuries have been reported among the four-strong crew on the other vessel.

The coast guard is continuing to comb the area for any sign of the two missing sailors.