Two Japanese sailors went missing after two cargo ships collided in the Naruto Strait between Japan' s Tokushima and Hyogo Prefectures early Sunday morning, local media reported, citing the Japan Coast Guard.

The collision between Japanese vessel Nisshin Maru and Marshall Islands-registered Outsailing 9 occurred at around 0:15 a.m. Sunday (1515 GMT Saturday), and the Japanese ship sank shortly after the accident, according the reports.

Two other Japanese sailors were rescued by the crew aboard the Marshallese ship and taken to hospital in Tokushima.

None of the crew members aboard Outsailing 9 was hurt.

The Marshallese vessel was en route to Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, from Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture.

The search and rescue operation by the Japan Coast guard is still under way for the missing. And investigation has been launched to determine the causes of the accident.