One dead, 25 missing in Japan shipping accidents

TOKYO, Oct 7 (Reuters) One Indian sailor died and 25 people were missing off Japan's Pacific coast after two ships ran aground in high winds and heavy seas, a Coast Guard official said today.

Nine crew members of a Panamanian-flagged iron ore carrier were missing after being swept off the bow of the 98,600-tonne ''Giant Step'' late yesterday after the vessel became stranded in high seas near Tokyo after a fire.

Seventeen others were rescued although one later died in hospital, the Coast Guard said. The crew consisted of 25 Indians and one Sri Lankan.

Media reports said the ship had broken in two, but the Coast Guard official said details were still being investigated.

The ship had been carrying 190,000 tonnes of iron ore from Australia, Kyodo news agency said.

Separately, rescuers were searching for all 16 crew members of a Japanese fishing boat who were missing after the vessel ran aground in Miyagi, some 300 km northeast of Tokyo.

Heavy rains and high winds touched off by a low-pressure system lashed eastern Japan yesterday and early today, producing high waves and heavy seas.

REUTERS DKS RAI0746