Home World Eight dead as South Korean chemical tanker carrying 1,000 tonnes of acid capsizes off Japanese island amid frantic mission to find missing crew

Eight dead as South Korean chemical tanker carrying 1,000 tonnes of acid capsizes off Japanese island amid frantic mission to find missing crew

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Footage from Japanese broadcaster NHK showed the ship's overturned red hull and a life raft (photo)
  • Two crew members of the capsized Keoyoung Sun still not found
  • The cause of the capsize is still not known
  • The tanker was carrying nearly a thousand tons of acrylic acid

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Eight people have died after a South Korean-flagged tanker carrying nearly a thousand tonnes of acid capsized in rough seas off the coast of Japan, as rescuers desperately search for two more crew members.

Nine members of the Keoyoung Sun’s 11-man crew, including two South Koreans, eight Indonesians and one Chinese, were rescued and the coast guard “is still searching for the other two”, a spokesperson told the AFP.

Although the rescued crew members were immediately taken to hospital, eight of them have since died.

The only crew member confirmed alive was from Indonesia, while the coast guard is still searching for two others. Another person found was in unknown condition, authorities said.

The Keoyoung Sun began sinking off the coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture on Wednesday around 7 a.m. local time. The crew then called the coast guard to inform them that the ship was limping towards Mutsure Island.

Footage from Japanese broadcaster NHK showed the ship's overturned red hull and a life raft (photo)

Footage from Japanese broadcaster NHK showed the ship’s overturned red hull and a life raft (photo)

The tanker, which, according to the specialist site shipfinder.com, is a chemical and petroleum tanker built in 1996.

The tanker, which, according to the specialist site shipfinder.com, is a chemical and petroleum tanker built in 1996.

The tanker, which, according to the specialist site shipfinder.com, is a chemical and petroleum tanker built in 1996.

The Keoyoung Sun began sinking off the coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture on Wednesday around 7 a.m. local time.

The Keoyoung Sun began sinking off the coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture on Wednesday around 7 a.m. local time.

The Keoyoung Sun began sinking off the coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture on Wednesday around 7 a.m. local time.

There was no information on whether this compound had spread into the ocean, according to the Coast Guard.

There was no information on whether this compound had spread into the ocean, according to the Coast Guard.

There was no information on whether this compound had spread into the ocean, according to the Coast Guard.

Mutsure is located on the southwest tip of Japan’s main island, Honshu, about 500 miles from Tokyo as the crow flies.

The tanker, which according to the specialist site shipfinder.com is a chemical and petroleum tanker built in 1996, measuring 226 feet long, was carrying 980 tons of acrylic acid.

The ship was en route from the Japanese port of Himeji to Ulsan in South Korea, according to NHK.

Footage from Japanese broadcaster NHK showed the ship’s overturned red hull along with a life raft, as a coast guard vessel hit heavy waves and a helicopter flew overhead.

The Japanese Coast Guard received a rescue call shortly after 7 a.m. local time that the ship was “listening, please help us,” the spokesperson said.

The ship’s operator declined to comment.

According to the Coast Guard, there was no information on whether this compound had spread into the ocean.

Acrylic acid is primarily used to create acrylics and resins.

They are also used in oil and water treatment chemicals.

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