Rescuers found no people, even after seven hours of intense search, which involved six patrol boats and four planes. Shortly after noon local time, a ship called Kazu 1 sent an emergency call, according to which the vessel had flooded the front part and began to tilt and dive. At that time, it was located on the west coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula in the north of the island of Hokkaido. They watched high waves and strong winds in the area. They have since lost contact with the sightseeing ship, the Coast Guard added, adding that 24 passengers, including two children and two crew members, were on board. According to local fishermen, they observed high waves and strong winds in the area. The Japanese media reported that the fishing boats had returned to ports before noon due to bad weather. The Shiretoko Peninsula, on which the eponymous national park lies, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.