Rescuers had earlier intensified the search Shiredo Peninsula A few hours later five more were in the same area, but the Coast Guard said it could not confirm whether they had been rescued alive.

The public broadcaster NHK said they were unconscious.

The Coast Guard said the nine were found in an area near the tip of the peninsula north of the site, where the boat sent out an emergency call Saturday.

The site is known for its rocky shores, making it difficult for boats to operate.

The boat, which was carrying 24 passengers and two crew members, including two children, went missing after sending a distress call, according to the Coast Guard, before the boat began to sink.

The 19-ton “Kazuo 1” boat made an emergency call Saturday afternoon, saying its nose had sunk and it had sunk while sailing off the west coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula on the northern island of Hokkaido. . Japan.

After that, the Coast Guard said it had severed contact with the cruise boat.

Another 17 are missing.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but experts suspect the boat sank in the sea and damaged by strong waves in an area known for its strong currents and rocky shores.

Return, canceled Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, attended the two-day summit Kumamoto In southern Japan, his show for the second day and returned to Tokyo.