The 190 meter long, 6277 dwt ro-ro passenger ship Sun Flower Daisetsu caught fire off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan. The Sun Flower Daisetsu was en route to Tomakomai from Tokyo with 71 passengers and 23 crew.  Reports states a fire started from one of the 160 trucks on the cargo deck.  The  fire quickly grew and got out of control and the crew quested assistance.  Authorities dispatched 15 patrol boats along with 5 helicopters to the scene.  The crew mustered all the passengers on board to the lifeboat stations where they gathered on deck wearing life jackets. When authorities arrived, all 71 passengers and 22 crew were evacuated off the ferry.  One crew member was reported missing.