Search and rescue efforts are continuing off Japan's western prefecture of Kagoshima after a Chinese fishing boat capsized, leaving five people missing.

The Japan Coast Guard says it sent an aircraft to the site, which is on the Chinese side of the median line, following a report of an accident by Beijing's maritime rescue center at around 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Coast Guard personnel searched for the missing people for about an hour and a half, but couldn't find them.

On Sunday morning, the Coast Guard resumed the search operation, sending another aircraft. The patrol ship Satsuma is also scheduled to arrive near the site later in the day to join the search.

Twenty-six people were reportedly on board the fishing boat, and 21 had been rescued by a nearby Chinese ship.