The bodies of three people, believed to be missing, who were found on the coast of Kunashiri Island in the Northern Territories and handed over by Russia after a sightseeing boat sank off the coast of Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido, were brought to Otaru Port this morning by the Japan Coast Guard. Arrived.
In the future, the identification of the identity will proceed with the DNA test.
In April this year, 15 passengers died and 11 people are missing in the accident in which the sightseeing boat "KAZU 1" carrying 26 passengers and crew sank off the coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula.
The bodies of three people, believed to be missing, found on the coast of Kunashiri Island in the Northern Territories and Sakhalin in the accident were handed over from the Russian side to Japan at a port in southern Sakhalin on the 9th.
The three Hitsugu were transported by a patrol boat of the Japan Coast Guard and arrived at Otaru Port at 8:00 am on the 10th.
According to sources, according to DNA tests conducted by the Russian authorities, the two bodies found on Kunashiri Island are the DNA data of the missing female passenger and male crew member, and the body of one person found on Sakhalin. It means that each matches the DNA data of a passenger living in Hokkaido.
The Japan Coast Guard has decided to carry out a DNA test again at a university facility in Hokkaido to identify the identity.
How is Otaru Port?
The three coffins were unloaded from the ramp covered with blue sheets and transferred to their respective cars, and left Otaru Port while the Coast Guard officers saluted and saw them off.
It means going to a university facility in Hokkaido for a DNA test.
Governor Suzuki “I strongly hope that everyone will be detected early”
Governor Suzuki of Hokkaido said, ``We have requested the government to realize the early handover of the body, which is believed to be a passenger, in the hope that it can be returned to the family as soon as possible. I would like to express my gratitude to all of you. I understand the heartache of the families who continue to wait for the return of their missing loved ones, and I strongly hope that everyone will be found early."
Deputy Chief of 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters “Return to family as soon as possible”
When the three bodies arrived, Koichi Kawagoe, Deputy Chief of the 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, said, "First of all, the bodies have been returned to Japan and they are resting. I would like to do my best to return it to the original. We will also search for missing people in cooperation with related organizations."