A South Korean-flagged chemical tanker has capsized off the coast of Yamaguchi prefecture in western Japan, with seven deaths confirmed, public broadcaster NHK reported on Wednesday, citing the coastguard.
The tanker, Keoyoung Solar, was anchored as a result of unhealthy climate and requested help after 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday (2200 GMT on Tuesday), reporting the vessel was tilting over, NHK reported.
The vessel had 11 crew aboard. Of the 9 crew members retrieved, seven have been confirmed useless, with rescue operations ongoing for the remaining two, NHK reported.
The tanker was carrying 980 tonnes of acrylic acid, however no spillage has been detected, NHK reported.
(Reuters – Reporting by Sam Nussey; Enhancing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Jan Harvey)
