Search Continues 6 Months After Fatal Boat Accident Off Hokkaido
The Japan Coast Guard and police are continuing to search for people who went missing six months ago in a sightseeing boat accident off the northern Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido.
The "Kazu I" tour boat sank off the Shiretoko Peninsula in April. Of the 26 passengers and crew members onboard, 20 have been confirmed dead and six remain missing as of Sunday.
Officials started an intensive search at the tip of the peninsula on Friday.
Divers will begin an underwater search when the weather improves.
DNA tests will be carried out on sixteen bone-like objects that had been found by Saturday.
The coast guard is trying to identify the cause of the accident by examining the salvaged ship and by restoring data from the onboard electronic devices that have been recovered so far.
The Japan Transport Safety Board is also carrying out an investigation.
The coast guard is looking into the possibility of professional negligence in the case, and has interviewed the boat operator's president, Katsurada Seiichi.