Japanese vessel capsizes after collision, 6 missing

TOKYO - A Japanese vessel capsized early Friday after collided with a Sierra Leone-registered cargo 11 km west off Japan's Izu Oshima, about 100 km south of Tokyo, according to local media.

The accident took place at 1: 30 am local time when the 500- ton Japanese vessel collided with the 3000-ton foreign cargo, according to Japan's broadcaster NHK.

A total of six crew member in the Japanese boat were missing after their ship capsized.

Local authorities have dispatched coast guard patrol vessels and airplanes to search the whereabouts of the missing people.

All 13 crew members, including Chinese national, of the Sierra Leonean cargo were in safe condition, according to the report.