24 fishermen rescued from half-submerged ship in rough seas off Japanese island, but 1 found dead
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Japanese coast guard helicopter rescued 24 fishermen as they desperately clung to the deck of a tilting, half-submerged ship being pounded by high waves Monday morning off an island chain southwest of Tokyo. It apparently drifted in the rough seas and was blown by the strong wind, and the captain sent a distress signal about five hours later, saying his ship hit the rocks, the coast guard said. The coast guard sent three patrol ships and three helicopters with special rescue teams to the site where the 56-meter, 379-ton ship went aground just north of Kozushima Island, part of the Izu group and about 170 kilometers southwest of Tokyo.