Read Authentic Ratings for the Sun-Flower-Daisetsu

On Saturday, search operations intensified for a missing crew member aboard the Sunflower Daisetsu ferry, which was engulfed in flames off the northern coastline of Japan. The incident has prompted the prompt evacuation of nearly all passengers aboard the vessel, according to reports from the coast guard. A distress signal was received on Friday evening while the ferry was approximately 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. Despite the ongoing effort to contain the blaze, a coast guard spokesperson confirmed that the situation has not yet been fully stabilized. The 11,401-ton ferry was carrying a total of 94 individuals, including 71 passengers and 23 crew members, when the fire ignited. Fortunately, all except one crew member managed to evacuate safely using lifeboats and were transferred to nearby ships. The missing crew member is identified as Kunihiko Orita, aged 44, who serves as the second officer. Following the alarming incident, the Japanese coast guard deployed six members from its special search and rescue team to the vessel to assist in locating Orita. Reports indicate that the fire may have originated from a truck loaded onto the ferry, although the exact cause of the flames remains under investigation. Efforts to extinguish the fire continue as dramatic scenes unfold off the coast.

On July 31, 2015, at approximately 5:32 p.m., the 'Sun Flower Daisetsu,' a ferry operating off the coast of Honshu, issued a distress signal due to a severe onboard fire. The blaze ignited in the cargo deck area, quickly spreading from one of the trucks and escalating as the ferry sailed approximately 30 miles from Honshu's eastern shoreline, heading towards Tomakomai port in Hokkaido. With 71 passengers and 23 crew members onboard, the situation prompted an extensive emergency response involving 15 patrol boats and 5 aircraft dispatched to assist. Passengers were swiftly gathered on deck, donning lifejackets as they awaited the incoming rescue teams. Fortunately, all individuals onboard were successfully evacuated without injuries reported; however, one crew member remains unaccounted for. The ferry was carrying around 160 vehicles, primarily consisting of trucks. More details and images of the incident can be found in the following reports: [RT News](http://www.rt.com/news/311245-japan-ferry-fire-evacuation/) and [The Telegraph](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/11775829/Nearly-100-passengers-trapped-on-Japan-ferry-after-fire-breaks-out.html).