At least seven dead as South Korean-flagged tanker capsizes off Japan

The tanker, Keoyoung Sun, was anchored due to bad weather and requested assistance 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 nine crew members retrieved, seven have been confirmed dead, with rescue operations ongoing, NHK reported.

The coastguard initially said it had rescued nine people out of an 11-member crew made up of two South Koreans, including the captain, eight Indonesians and a Chinese national. It later said one, an Indonesian national, was still alive.

Another person found was in unknown condition, officials said. Earlier, authorities said all nine found were in “unknown condition.”

A rescue operation for the remaining two people missing is still under way.

The tanker was carrying 980 tonnes of acrylic acid, but no spillage has been detected, NHK reported.