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Chinese crew homebound after ship sank off Japan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-14 09:20

ISHIGAKI -- Three Chinese survivors from a cargo ship which sunk near Japan's southern Okinawa islands left Ishigaki, where they had been treated in two hospitals, for home Sunday morning, Chinese embassy sources said.

The survivors boarded a plane to Shanghai from Naha of Okinawa at 8:55 a.m. local time Sunday. The body of another sailor who was killed in the tragedy was also flown home earlier by a separate plane.

Related readings:  Ship with Chinese crew aboard sinks off Okinawa  Chinese ship missing south Okinawa, survivors found

A Japan Coast Guard (JCG) official confirmed Friday that the 17, 000-ton Panama- registered ship "Nasco Diamondo" with 25 Chinese crew aboard had sunk near Okinawa islands.

Five of the Chinese crew on board have been found with three alive and two dead, and the other 20 crew remain missing. The three survivors were taken to two hospitals on the Ishigaki island late Thursday.

The JCG on Friday dispatched an aircraft as well as a patrol ship to the relevant waters to continue to search for survivors. Aircraft from the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Air Self- Defense Force also participated in the rescue and search operations.  

The vessel last contacted its Chinese owner at around 7 p.m. Tuesday. Japan Coast Guard in Naha received a message saying the ship went missing some 340 km south of Iriomote island early Wednesday.