OSAKA - A fishing boat overturned in waters off Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan on Wednesday morning, leaving a fisherman missing, local press reported.

The accident happened at around 6:30 am local time when crew members on board a passing oil tanker found the boat overturning in waters about four kilometers south off the Awaji Island of the prefecture, according to the report. ?

The report cited the Japanese Coast Guard as saying that rough wave conditions had been observed in the sea area since the morning hours, and the 11-meter boat belongs to a local fisheries cooperative of Awaji City on the island.

The Japanese Coast Guard patrol vessels are searching for the missing fisherman in nearby waters.