Search underway for crew of capsized fishing ship off Palau

Tokyo: A search is underway for two Japanese and five Indonesian crew members after their fishing ship was found capsized about 400 kilometres from the Pacific island of Palau.

Planes and ships from the US, Japan and Palau are taking part in the search for the Japanese-flagged Gyotoku Maru No. 1, the US Coast Guard said today.

The 15-metre tuna fishing boat capsized southwest of Palau. Japan's Kyodo News service said the ship sent a mayday signal Monday afternoon and a vessel from Japan's National

Fisheries University located it the next morning.

Kyodo said the crew consists of a Japanese captain and chief engineer and five Indonesian crew members.