Japanese authorities have arrested the captain of a cargo vessel following a deadly collision just off the southern coast earlier this week. The 28-year-old captain faces charges of negligence after his ship, the 492-ton gravel carrier Sada Maru No 38, struck a yacht amid poor visibility near Hoto Island in Oita prefecture. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, August 13, according to local reports.
Upon receiving notification of the collision, the Japan Coast Guard promptly launched a search and rescue operation, deploying six vessels and a fixed-wing aircraft to scan the area. Rescue teams recovered a 70-year-old man from the water, but despite efforts, he was later declared dead at the hospital.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact number of people who were on board the yacht at the time of the crash, and search efforts continue for possible missing individuals. Officials suspect the gravel carrier failed to slow down or stop prior to the impact, raising further questions about the actions of the vessel’s captain and crew.
Investigators report that the captain claimed the yacht “disappeared” after the collision and is believed to have sunk. The detained ship remains under investigation as authorities work to piece together the circumstances leading to the fatal accident
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