Eight cargo ship crew presumed dead in shipwreck off Japan – Observer

Eight crew members of a South Korean tanker were declared dead after it capsized off an island southwest of Japan, the Japanese coast guard said.

According to Japanese maritime authorities, one member of the crew, made up of 11 people, was rescued alive. The ship was commanded by a South Korean captain and the crew included another South Korean citizen, a Chinese citizen and eight Indonesian citizens.

The coast guard indicated that it was “still looking” for people who were on board the tanker, which capsized after transmitting messages indicating that it was facing strong sea waves.

The Japanese coast guard said it received a distress call from the tanker “Keoyoung Sun”.

The cargo ship transporting chemical materials was “leaning” while seeking refuge near the Japanese island of Mutsure due to bad weather. The island is southwest of Japan’s main island, Honshu.

The ship was already completely overturned when rescue teams arrived at the scene, the Japanese coast guard said. Images from Japan’s NHK television show the ship completely capsized in rough seas. The large vessel transports 980 tons of acrylic acid.

Until now, no leak was detected authorities are studying the environmental protection measures that may be necessary.

Acrylic acid is used in plastics, resins and coatings and can irritate skin, eyes and mucous membranes, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.