2nd crew member, dead cows found after ship sinks off Japan

TOKYO -- Japanese rescuers found the second crew member and multiple dead cows Friday, September 4, in waters where a livestock ship capsized and is believed to have sunk during stormy weather, coast guard officials said.

The man was found eastern coast. unconscious and The Filipino crew floating face down member, 45-year-old about 120 kilometers Chief Officer Edvardo (75 miles) northwest Sareno, was rescued of Amami Oshima island late Wednesday. Coast in the East China guard video shows Sea, where rescuers rescuers carefully have been looking for maneuvering their the Gulf Livestock 1 boat in choppy waters ship and its missing to safely pluck Sareno crew since it sent a out of the water. He distress signal early told them the ship Wednesday. stalled when an engine

The man, whose stopped, then nationality and crew capsized after being status is unknown, hit by a powerful was taken to a hospital broadside wave and but later pronounced sank. dead, said Officials quoted Takahiro Yamada, a Sareno as saying that senior spokesman he put on a life jacket for the regional and jumped into the coast guard headquarters. sea, and that he has He said not seen any other rescuers also spotted crew members since dozens of cow then. carcasses floating in “Thank you, thank the area. So far, he you very much,” said he was not Sareno told rescuers aware of reports of as he was escorted carcasses washing onto a bigger ship, ashore the Japanese where he sat on a co ast . blue tarp, wrapped in

The 11,947-ton blankets and taking a ship, its 43 crew and bottle of water. “I'm 5,800 cows left New the only one? No Zealand in mid-August other one?” he asked heading to the rescuers, then Tangshan on China’s added, “I'm so sorry ... (I'm) so lucky.”

The total crew included 39 from the Philippines, two from New Zealand and two from Australia.

Rescuers in four boats, an aircraft as well as divers joined Friday’s search operations. A bundle of orange rope and a life jacket carrying the ship's name were also recovered, according to a coast guard statement.

Typhoon Maysak was blowing by southern Japan at the time of the sinking. The ship's automated tracker showed it sailing in high winds of 58 knots (66 miles or 107 kilometers per hour) at its last known position, according to the shiptracking website MarineTraffic.com.

"Our hearts go out to those onboard and their families at this time. We also express deep regret for the sad loss of the livestock on board," the ship’s operator, Dubai-based Gulf Navigation Holdings PJSC, said in a statement. “We pray that there are other survivors.”

The company, traded on the Dubai Financial Market, says it owns and operates chemical tankers, livestock vessels and other ships.

Another powerful typhoon is approaching southern Japan over the weekend.

( AP)