Tragedy at Sea: Eight Sailors Dead as South Korean Tanker Capsizes off Japan’s West Coast
In a devastating maritime incident, eight sailors have lost their lives after a South Korean-flagged tanker overturned off the west coast of Japan.
Amidst the chaos, one survivor was found in a non-life-threatening condition, while two others remain unaccounted for, according to Japan’s coast guard.
The Keoyoung Sun met its tragic fate off Yamaguchi prefecture after the distressed crew desperately radioed for help around 07:00 on Wednesday (22:00 GMT Tuesday).
Despite ongoing search efforts, two sailors are still missing and hopes of their safe return are dwindling.
Reports indicate that the vessel was at anchor due to severe stormy weather conditions at the time of the incident. The coast guard revealed that the tanker was carrying 980 tonnes of highly volatile acrylic acid.
The rescue operation is currently underway in the vicinity of the city of Shimonoseki in Japan’s south-western region.
According to the Japanese coast guard, the crew composition consists of two Koreans, eight Indonesians, and one Chinese national.
With winds reaching speeds of up to 54km (33 miles) per hour in the area on Wednesday, the challenging conditions have further complicated the search and rescue efforts. — BBC
