TOKYO — Japan’s guard says 10 of the 26 people aboard a tour boat that sank in the frigid waters of a northern national park have been confirmed dead.
The search for the others is still ongoing a day after the boat sent a distress call saying it was sinking.
The coast guard said Sunday that the bodies of the 10 victims included seven men and three women.
Fishing boats leave a port to search for a missing tour boat in Shari, in the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan on April 24, 2022.AP 
Rescuers attend to a person found near the tip of Shiretoko Peninsula in northern Japan on April 24, 2022.AP 
This photo released by the 1st Regional Japan Coast Guard Headquarters, shows an orange-colored, square-shaped lifesaving float with the name of a missing tour boat on it near the tip of Shiretoko Peninsula in northern Japan of Hokkaido Sunday, April 24, 2022. AP 
Firefighters transfer a rescued person from a helicopter in Shari, in the northern island of Hokkaido on April 24, 2022. AP 
A helicopter lands near Hokkaido during the search effort.Kyodo 
Japan’s Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Ministry officials enter the office of tour boat operator Shiretoko Pleasure Cruise to conduct a special audit.EPA 
Fishing boats conduct a search operation for missing people aboard the “Kazu 1” sightseeing boat that went missing.JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images
There were two crew and 24 passengers, including two children, on the tour boat when it ran into trouble on Saturday afternoon near the tip of Shiretoko Peninsula.
The location is known as a difficult place to maneuver boats because of its rocky coastline.
The Transport Ministry has launched an investigation into the boat’s operator, which had two accidents last year.