Near southwest Japan, a South Korean tanker overturns, leaving nine crew members rescued and two reported missing
Early on Wednesday, a South Korean tanker capsized near an island in southwest Japan. The Coast Guard reported that nine crew members had been recovered, and two more were still missing.
The coast guard reported that it got a distress call from the chemical tanker Keoyoung Sun, which stated that severe weather was causing it to tilt as it sought shelter close to Japan’s Mutsure Island.
The island is located roughly 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Tokyo, off the southwest coast of Honshu, the main island of Japan.
By the time rescuers reached the scene, the ship had totally capsized, according to the Coast Guard. NHK television captured the ship entirely upside down, with violent water lapping over its crimson underbelly.
It was unknown how the crew members who were rescued fared.
According to the coast guard, the ship included eight Indonesians, a Chinese national, and another South Korean as part of its crew in addition to its skipper.
According to officials, the ship contained 980 tons of acrylic acid. Although no leak has been found, authorities are investigating what environmental safety precautions would be required in the event that one occurs.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, acrylic acid can cause irritation to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes and is utilized in plastics, resin, and coatings.
