On Wednesday, May 26, Japanese and Russian fishing vessels collided in the Sea of Okhotsk, 23 km off the coast of Japan’s Hokkaido Island. Three Japanese fishermen were killed and two injured as a result, TASS reports.
The authorities of Japan are looking into circumstances of the collision.
"We are examining circumstances of the incident, our patrol ships have been sent to the area," the department said. According to its information, "survivors, who were on board the Japanese vessel at the moment of the collision, have been taken to the shore, and their lives are out of danger."
Meanwhile, the Kyodo news agency quoted one of the Japanese ship’s crew members as saying that it was the Russian vessel that ran into the Japanese one. According to preliminary data, thecollision took place due to poor visibility.
According to the Kyodo news agency, a Japanese patrol ship escorted the Russian vessel to the port of Mombetsu in the north of the country.
The Russian embassy in Japan confirmed this information, saying that "the embassy and the Russian Consulate General in Sapporo will render all necessary assistance to Russians on board the Amur vessel."