The Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka immediately activated its emergency response mechanism, established real-time communication mechanism with relevant Japanese departments and the MRCC, before assisting with search and rescue efforts. Photo: The official website of the Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka.

Together with Japanese authorities and the China Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC), the Chinese Consulate-General in Fukuoka have launched a rescue operation for Chinese fishermen in the East China Sea west of Shimoshima, Kagoshima, where a Chinese fishing boat capsized on Saturday. 

A total of 26 fishermen fell into the water, of which 21 were rescued by nearby Chinese fishing boats, while five remain missing.    

The boat capsized at 3:51 pm on Saturday. The 10th Regional Headquarters of the Japan Coast Guard dispatched aircraft to conduct search and rescue operations for the missing, but no one had been found as of 8:00 pm that day, according to Japanese media reports.

The length overall (LOA) of the boat was 24 meters and the width 6 meters, according to maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic. The ship had a draft of 2.2 meters and a maximum speed of 12.1 knots, it noted.

After learning of the situation, the Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka immediately activated its emergency response mechanism, established real-time communication with relevant Japanese departments and the MRCC and assisted with search and rescue efforts.

Consul General at the Chinese Consulate in Fukuoka Lü Guijun had a phone call with the head of the Japanese 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters. Lü expressed China's concern for the safety of the fishermen who fell into the water, and requested that the Japanese side continue all-out search and rescue efforts by all available means.

The Japanese side stated that they had dispatched aircraft for search and rescue but had not yet found any trace of the missing individuals. The aircraft returned due to darkness and adverse weather conditions.

Two patrol ships have been sent to the last known location of the capsized vessel to continue the search and rescue operation, Japanese authorities noted.

Global Times