Search efforts continue for people missing in a pleasure boat tragedy off the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido. (Kenji Notsu)

Photo/Illutration The Japan Coast Guard continues its search operations off the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido on the morning of April 27. (Kazuyoshi Sako)

Hopes were dashed that a “large object” spotted on the seabed off eastern Hokkaido was a tour boat that went missing April 23 in stormy weather with 26 people on board.

The Coast Guard’s Regional Maritime Safety Headquarters based in Otaru, Hokkaido, said April 27 that the object turned out to be an uneven rock formation, not the Kazu I pleasure craft.

The site is close to the last known position of the boat that was taking tourists around the spectacular Shiretoko Peninsula.

The Coast Guard on April 26 dispatched divers to the site, about 30 meters below the sea surface and 150 meters west of the scenic Kashuni Falls.

The search continued April 27 with five divers.

But officials said there was no evidence of the missing boat.

Eleven bodies have been recovered so far, but 15 people remain missing.

The Coast Guard will continue to search the coastline, using divers as well as boats and aircraft.

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