Five people are missing after a South Korean chemical tanker capsizes near Japan.

Five crew members are missing after a South Korean chemical tanker capsized off Japan’s west coast on Wednesday, according to Japan’s coast guard officials. The Keoyoung Sun vessel, carrying 11 crew members, made a distress call to the Japanese Coast Guard at around 7 a.m., reporting that it was tilting in waters near an island of the Shimonoseki city in the Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Of the 11 crew members on board — two South Koreans, eight Indonesians and one Chinese — six have been rescued and five others were unaccounted for. No details on the nationalities of the rescued and missing were immediately known. The ship was apparently anchoring due to high waves and strong winds.

The coast guard said its aircraft and patrol ships were conducting rescue operations. Details are awaited to determine the status of the missing crew members. The search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining five individuals and ensure their safety.

This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by seafarers and the importance of prompt and efficient response in such emergencies. Our thoughts are with the crew members and their families as they await updates on the situation.