The search was conducted on Thursday after a cargo ship transported about 6,000 head of cattle from New Zealand to China overturned in inclement weather.
So far, only one of the 43 crew members has been rescued in the East China Sea, Reuters reported.
Gulf Livestock 1 sent a distress call off the west coast of Japan after the ship lost its engine and hit a wave in the middle of the sea thrown by Typhoon Maysak.
The Japanese Coast Guard said three ships, five aircraft and two divers were looking for missing crew members.
Sareno Edvarodo, 45, a rescued senior officer from the Philippines, said the team was ordered to put on life jackets after they lost the engine. He said he jumped into the water and didn’t see anyone until he was rescued Wednesday night.
Along with Edvarodo, there were 38 other Filipino crew members, two Australians and two New Zealanders.
NANA BECOMES A HURRICANE BEFORE LANDING IN BELIZA, TROPICAL STORM OMAR LEAVES US
In this photograph, released by the 10th Regional Japan Coast Guard Headquarters, a Panamanian cargo ship crew member from the Philippines is rescued by Japanese Coast Guard members off the coast of Amami Oshima, Japan on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 by a crew member from the sea during a search A cargo ship carrying more than 40 crew members and thousands of cows went missing after sending a distress signal from a southern Japanese island. (10th Japan Coast Guard Regional Headquarters via AP)
Typhoon Haishen is also intensifying off the coast of Japan and is expected to hit the Korean coast in the next few days.
According to Reuters, the 145-foot Panamanian vessel with 5,867 cows was to reach Jingtang port on China’s east coast in 17 days.
The wreckage has again raised questions about the ethics and safety of the live animal trade in the country.
“This is a real crisis and we are thinking about the families of the 43 crew members who went missing on the ship. But questions remain, including why this trade could continue, ”said Marianne MacDonald of the SAFE animal rights group. Reuters… “These cows were never supposed to be at sea.”
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The New Zealand government launched an investigation into the multimillion-dollar business last year after thousands of animals died en route.
