13 confirmed dead after Chinese fishing vessel collides with tanker

TOKYO -- Seven more bodies were found in the toppled Chinese fishing vessel after it collided with a tanker early Thursday, bringing the total death toll to 13, according to the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka.

The fishing vessel from the Chinese mainland collided with a tanker of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Thursday in international waters some 400 km north of the Oki Islands in western Japan.

Earlier, one of the 16 crew members on board of the fishing vessel was found dead, three were rescued by nearby fishing vessels, while 12 others were missing.

Three patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard have begun work since early Friday with frogmen sent to search for the missing people, said the consulate general.

Five bodies were found in the toppled Chinese fishing vessel on Friday morning and seven more were found in the afternoon.

The bodies have been transferred to another Chinese fishing vessel nearby.

The consulate general said it will continue to keep contact with the Japanese side to coordinate for the follow-up issues.