A Japanese coast guard spokesperson, Nanaka Yoshida, reported that the captain of the sand carrier notified authorities this morning about a collision with a pleasure boat near Hoto island, in southern Japan's Oita prefecture.

Location of Hoto island (red), Oita prefecture, southern Japan. Graphic: Google Maps

The Oita coast guard office and other units dispatched 7 vessels to search the area. By 10 a.m., they found a man in his 50s in cardiopulmonary arrest. He was taken to a hospital.

The sand carrier's captain stated that several people were aboard the pleasure boat when it sank, but the exact number is unknown. Authorities believe that many were thrown into the sea during the forceful impact with the nearly 65-meter-long sand carrier. The search area is being expanded.

"We currently have no detailed information about the pleasure boat or how many people were on board," Yoshida said.

Huyen Le (According to AFP, Japan News, NHK)