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Seven missing after Japan boat found capsized off Palau

The capsized Japanese boat was found earlier in the day 410 kilometres southwest of Palau

Afp November 21, 2017 Less than a minute read

Japanese rescuers found the bodies of two fishermen from a sunken boat that capsized a day earlier, though seven others still missing,PHOTO :AFP

TOKYO: Japan's coastguard said Tuesday it was searching for seven missing fishermen -- two Japanese and five Indonesians -- after their boat capsized in high seas off the western Pacific archipelago of Palau.

"The coastguard is flying a plane to the area and a patrol ship is heading there too," a spokesperson told AFP. "But we haven't been able to confirm the safety of the seven members."

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The capsized Japanese boat was found earlier in the day 410 kilometres (250 miles) southwest of Palau after the crew sent an SOS on Monday.

Nearby vessels including a ship from Japan's National Fisheries University joined the search and Japan had asked Guam for cooperation, the spokesman added.