The Japan Coast Guard is still searching for a sightseeing boat that went missing in waters off the country's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. Twenty-six people were on board.

Coast Guard officers say they are now confirming information that "something like a human" was found in the area.

They say the boat sent a distress call on Saturday afternoon during its tour around the Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

They say 24 passengers, including two children, and two crewmembers were on board the ship. All of them were reported to be wearing life vests.

The crew told the officers that the ship was taking on water and listing at an angle of about 30 degrees and that it could not move on its own as its engine had stopped.

The Coast Guard sent six patrol ships and four planes to look for the boat "KAZU I." The Air Self-Defense Force also dispatched a search-and-rescue aircraft.

The operating company says the boat left a port on the peninsula on Saturday morning for a three-hour excursion and was supposed to return to the port.

Meteorological Agency officials say waves in the area were up to three meters high at the time the boat issued the distress call.

The Coast Guard says the boat ran aground last June right after leaving the same port. None of the 23 people on board were injured and the ship was able to return to the port.