HABORO, Hokkaido -- Two leisure fishing boats collided with each other off the coast here over the weekend, injuring eight passengers, coast guard officials said.

The area was covered with dense fog at the time of the accident. The Rumoi Coast Guard Office is investigating the cause of the accident.

The "Tomi Maru" and "Hokuto Maru No. 8" leisure fishing boats collided with each other about nine kilometers north of Haboro Port in Haboro at around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, local coast guard officials said.

The Tomi Maru filled with water and became stranded after the collision. The Hokuto Maru towed the Tomi Maru, and the two boats arrived at Haboro Port about two hours later.

Five of the seven passengers aboard the Tomi Maru and three of the 10 Hokuto Maru passengers were injured and were treated at a hospital in Haboro. All passengers were from Hokkaido.

Coast guard officials said the Tomi Maru left Haboro Port at 4:30 a.m. and the Hokuto Maru followed at 6 a.m. The sea was calm at the time of the accident, but was covered with dense fog and visibility was only 200 to 300 meters. A dense fog advisory had been issued in the area.

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