Seven people die as South Korean tanker overturns near Japan’s coast

Seven people have tragically died after a South Korean-flagged tanker capsized in waters off the Japanese prefecture of Yamaguchi. The incident occurred when the Keoyoung Sun, with 11 non-Japanese crew on board, sent an emergency call due to bad weather.

The Japan Coast Guard reported that although nine crew members were rescued, seven of them were later confirmed dead. The coast guard station received the distress call at around 7:05 a.m. local time on Wednesday, stating that the ship was tilted and in need of rescue in waters west of Mutsure Island off Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Efforts are underway by the coast guard and other authorities to search for the two remaining crew members. The tanker had been at anchor due to rough weather conditions, and warnings about strong winds and high waves had been issued at the time of the tragic incident.

The local observatory had issued warnings, but unfortunately, the capsizing still occurred, leading to the loss of seven lives. The investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing as the search for the missing crew members continues.