One crew still missing on burning ferry off Japan coast

This handout picture taken and released by the Japanese Coast Guard on August 1, 2015 shows a coast guard vessel (R) spraying water over the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines's ferry "Sunflower Daisetsu" which caught fire on July 31 off the coast of Tomakomai, Northern island of Hokkaido. - AFP

TOKYO, Aug 1, 2015 (AFP) - Rescuers on Saturday launched an onboard search for a missing crew member after a fire broke out on a ferry off the coast of northern Japan prompting the evacuation of dozens of passengers, the coastguard said.

Coastguard boats continued battling the blaze on the Sunflower Daisetsu after a distress call was made Friday evening as it was sailing about 55 kilometres (34 miles) off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island.