Two ships collided in heavy fog off Japan on Friday morning, sinking one of the vessels and leaving three of its crew members missing, an official said.

The crash between an empty Panamanian-registered freighter, the Nissei Maru, and the Japanese cargo vessel, the No. 8 Sumitoku Mara, occurred about 5:45 a.m. (2045 GMT) off Shimoda, a port on Izu Peninsula south of Tokyo, said Shinpei Takahashi, a spokesman for Japan's coast guard.

The 499-ton cargo vessel, which was carrying cement and five crew members, quickly sank, throwing the men overboard.

Four coast guard ships raced to the scene, rescuing two of the crewmen, Takahashi said. The search continued for the three others, including captain Katsumi Matsuda, 53.
None of the 10 men aboard the 1,258-ton Nissei Maru were injured in the accident. Bureau Report