13 missing after shipwreck in Sea of Japan

Bad weather conditions are hampering the efforts of emergency teams struggling to rescue 13 people from a cargo ship which sank in the Sea of Japan on Sunday. All 36 on board, including members of the Russian crew and six passengers, escaped on four infla

The timber freighter Kasper-1, sailing under the flag of Saint Vincent and Grenadines, was en route from the Russian Far Eastern port of Nakhodka to China when it sank in a storm 180 miles south of the port.

The captain said the ship sank due to cargo shifting during the storm.

Olga Alkina from the Far East regional emergencies ministry said that 23 people have been rescued and are currently onboard Russian and British vessels, whilst “the fate of 13 other people remains unknown”.

“There are four boats working in the distress area but darkness and poor weather conditions are hindering the search,” she said.

“If the sailors are not found before sunrise, rescue aircraft will join the operation. There will be one plane from the Emergencies Ministry and two planes from the Pacific Fleet taking part in the search,” Alkina added.