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Five missing

TOKYO: Five Japanese crew members were missing and two others suffered burns in a fire that broke out on Saturday on their fishing boat off northern Japan, Maritime Safety Agency officials said.

The fire occurred at around noon on the 135-tonne No. 27 Eikyumaru in the Pacific Ocean, some 515 kilometres (319 miles) from Kinkazan in Miyagi prefecture, the officials said.

There were 21 crew members on board, they said, adding that 14 of them had been rescued.

Two rescue boats, an airplane and a helicopter were searching for the missing crew, the officials said, adding that the fire appeared to be under control.-AFP