The Korea Herald

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2 missing after S. Korean chemical tanker capsizes off western Japan

By Yonhap

Published : March 20, 2024 - 14:49

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This photoshows the South Korean chemical tanker that overturned in waters off Japan's western city of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Wednesday. (AP-Yonhap) This photoshows the South Korean chemical tanker that overturned in waters off Japan's western city of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Wednesday. (AP-Yonhap)

A South Korean chemical tanker capsized off Japan's west coast Wednesday, leaving two crew members missing, Japan's coast guard officials said.

The Keoyoung Sun vessel, carrying 11 crew members, made the distress call to the Japanese Coast Guard at around 7 a.m., reporting that it was tilting in waters near an island of the Shimonoseki city in the Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Of the 11 crew members on board -- two South Koreans, eight Indonesians and one Chinese -- nine have been rescued and two others were unaccounted for.

No details on the nationalities of the rescued and missing were immediately known.

The nine rescued were transported on a chopper to a hospital.

The ship was apparently anchoring due to high waves and strong winds.

The coast guard said its aircraft and patrol ships were conducting rescue operations. (Yonhap)