In collaboration with Japanese authorities and the China Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC), the Chinese Consulate-General in Fukuoka has initiated a rescue operation for Chinese fishermen in the East China Sea, west of Shimoshima, Kagoshima, following the capsizing of a Chinese fishing boat on Saturday.
The incident unfolded at 3:51 pm on Saturday, resulting in 26 fishermen falling into the water. Twenty-one were successfully rescued by nearby Chinese fishing boats, while five individuals remain missing. Despite search and rescue efforts by the 10th Regional Headquarters of the Japan Coast Guard, no trace of the missing individuals had been found as of 8:00 pm on the same day.
The capsized boat, with an overall length (LOA) of 24 meters and a width of 6 meters, was equipped with a draft of 2.2 meters and had a maximum speed of 12.1 knots, as reported by maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic.
Upon learning of the situation, the Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka promptly activated its emergency response mechanism, establishing real-time communication with relevant Japanese departments and the MRCC to assist in the ongoing search and rescue operations.
Consul General Lü Guijun engaged in a phone call with the head of the Japanese 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, expressing China’s concern for the safety of the fishermen and urging the Japanese side to continue comprehensive search and rescue efforts using all available means.
Japanese authorities confirmed the dispatch of two patrol ships to the last known location of the capsized vessel to sustain the search and rescue operation, emphasizing the challenges posed by darkness and adverse weather conditions during their initial aircraft deployment.