TOKYO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Four people have been confirmed dead after a fishing boat capsized following a collision with a cargo ship off northeastern Japan early Tuesday, local media reported.
Local coast guard was notified at around 1:15 a.m. local time of the collision between the 748-ton cargo ship and the 140-ton bottom trawl fishing vessel about 20 km off the coast of Misawa City in Aomori Prefecture, according to public broadcaster NHK.
All 13 crew members were cast into the sea when the fishing vessel capsized. While all were rescued by around 7 a.m., four were pulled out unconscious and later confirmed dead, the report said.
The coast guard is investigating the details of the collision. ■
