Tokyo, Japan -- Two cargo ships collided just outside
Tokyo Bay, according to the Japanese Coast Guard.The Panamanian-flagged Beagle III crashed into another
vessel, the South Korean-registered Pegasus Prime, causing it to sink. The incident
occurred southeast of the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Of the 20 crew members -- all of whom are Chinese nationals
-- aboard Beagle III, 12 have been rescued and eight are still missing.
Of the rescued crew members, six have slight injuries while
one is "seriously injured," according to a statement released by the
Chinese Embassy in Tokyo.
The seriously injured crew member was taken to the nearby
Miuraa City Hospital, where he is in a "state of cardiopulmonary
arrest."
The 14 crew aboard the other vessel, Pegasus Prime, are all
accounted for, according to the Coast Guard, which has boats and helicopters on
the scene.
The two ships collided at 3:20 a.m. Tuesday. Japan's Transportation Safety Board has dispatched five
marine accident investigators to look into the cause of the accident.
The area the collision occurred is the entrance of Tokyo
Bay, a well-known sea route for more than 400 vessels that use the port in
Tokyo or Yokohama.
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| The location of the collision, which occured in the early hours of Tuesday morning |
The 7,406-ton Pegasus Prime had departed Kunsan, South Korea
and was heading to Tokyo.
The Chinese Embassy reported that the search and rescue
operation is comprised of 10 ships and a helicopter. The statement also
indicated that "emergency mechanisms" were in place between the
Japanese and Chinese authorities in Tokyo to ensure proper cooperation and
continued efforts to search for the remaining missing crew members.
