TOKYO: A South Korea-flagged chemicals tanker carrying 11 crew members capsized in rough seas off Japan, leaving five individuals unaccounted for as of Wednesday, according to the coastguard.
Among the crew, which comprised two South Koreans, eight Indonesians, and one Chinese, six members have been rescued so far, while search efforts continue for the remaining five individuals.
The tanker, reportedly carrying acrylic acid, overturned near the island of Mutsure off Japan’s southwestern coast. There is currently no confirmation regarding any leakage of the chemical into the ocean.
Details regarding the condition of the rescued crew members, who were transported to the hospital, remain undisclosed.
Footage broadcasted by Japanese news outlet NHK displayed the overturned red hull of the vessel and a life raft amidst heavy waves, with coastguard ships and helicopters engaged in rescue operations.
The Japan Coast Guard was alerted about the tilting vessel early Wednesday, following a distress call from the crew requesting assistance.
Identified as the Keoyoung Sun, the tanker, built in 1996, specializes in transporting chemical and oil products, measuring 69 meters (226 feet) in length, as per vesselfinder.com.
While the ship’s operator refrained from providing comments, the coastguard continues its efforts to locate the missing crew members amidst challenging sea conditions.
