11 Indian crew go missing after ship sinks off Japan

By Ahmed Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - Eleven crew members of an Indian ship remain missing after it sank off the coast of southwestern Japan, External Affairs Ministry said Friday evening.

Fifteen other crew members were rescued; search for the missing continues, a ministry spokesman said.

Local media reported the ship sank following a typhoon in the region.

“15 Indians rescued, search on for missing 11 following sinking of a ship off Okinawa. Our Missions in Japan, Philippines & China on the job,” ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Kumar also shared the names of 15 rescued nationals on Twitter saying the list had been received from Japanese officials.

The Indian Express said the Japanese coastguard had “dispatched two patrol boats and three planes to the site but a typhoon has made a rescue difficult”.