The Japanese coast guard is searching for nine people thought to be missing after a Chinese ship sank off western Japan.
The coast guard says the Chinese-registered ship Lurongyu 2859 sank Tuesday off the coast of Shimane prefecture in the Sea of Japan.
The agency said China requested Japan's assistance with the rescue, adding at least five crew members have already been saved.
The Chinese vessel is believed to either be a cargo or fishing ship. The nationalities of the crew members are not known.
