TOKYO: A multination search is underway for two Japanese and five Indonesian crew members after their fishing ship was found capsized about 400 kilometres from the Pacific island of Palau.
The US Coast Guard said Wednesday that planes and ships from the US, Japan and Palau are taking part in the search.
The Japanese-flagged, 15-metre tuna fishing boat, Gyotoku Maru No. 1, capsized southwest of Palau. Japan's Kyodo News service said the ship sent a mayday signal Monday afternoon.
A vessel from Japan's National Fisheries University located the ship the next morning.
Kyodo said the crew consists of a Japanese captain and chief engineer and five Indonesian crew members.