South Korean tanker capsizes off Japanese island, 7 crew members missing
A South Korean tanker overturned early Wednesday off Mutsure Island in southwestern Japan, leading to a rescue operation for its crew.
The coast guard has successfully rescued four members but continues to search for seven others still unaccounted for.
The distress call from the Keoyoung Sun, a chemical tanker, was received during rough weather conditions, as it sought refuge near the island located off the southwestern tip of Japan’s main island, Honshu, approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Tokyo.
The vessel eventually capsized, confirmed by the coast guard. Television footage broadcasted by NHK showed the tanker flipped entirely over, with its red underside exposed to the harsh sea conditions.
The conditions of the rescued crewmembers were immediately not known.
NHK television reported the crew included a Chinese national, two South Koreans and eight Indonesians.
No other details, including how the ship capsized, were immediately known.
