Tokyo: A Hong Kong freighter and a Chinese fishing boat collided off southern Japan, leaving three people dead and 13 missing, the Japanese Coast Guard said today.

The two boats collided yesterday night due to high seas around 2330 IST, about 350 kilometres west of Takarajima island off Japan s Kagoshima prefecture on southern Kyushu island, a Coast Guard official told AFP.

The Chinese fishing boat sank, killing three crew and leaving 13 missing, the official said. Two were rescued, he added. He gave its name as the "Ur Run Yun 2177."

The official was unable to confirm the identity of the Hong Kong freighter and further details are currently unknown. The Coast Guard is continuing to search for the missing crew members.

The Japanese Coast Guard obtained information on the collision this afternoon.

Source : PTI