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At least eight crew members were killed after a South Korean-flagged chemical tanker anchored off the coast of Japan capsized.
The 11-strong crew of the 1996-built tanker
Keoyoung Sun requested assistance around 7:05 am local time on Wednesday, reporting that the vessel was tilting.
The Japanese coast guard sent boats and aircraft to assist the capsized vessel located some 68 km south of an island in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. The ship was en route from the Japanese port of Himeji to Ulsan, South Korea.
According to Japanese media, the multinational crew consisted of two South Koreans, eight Indonesians, and one sailor from China. Initial reports pointed to several rescued survivors but Japanese authorities have stated that at least eight people have been pronounced dead while just one Indonesian crew member was confirmed alive. The remaining two are still unaccounted for.
Local weather services issued warnings for strong winds and high waves which was the reason the vessel was anchored. Winds measuring up to 54 km per hour were measured in the area.
The tanker was carrying around 980 metric tons of acrylic acid on board. So far, no leak has been detected environmental protection measures are being considered if a leak does happen. Acrylic acid is used in plastics, resin, and coatings and can irritate the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.
The post Eight dead in chemical tanker capsize incident off Japan appeared first on Energy News Beat.
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