At least seven dead as South Korean-flagged tanker capsizes off Japan

Seven people died and two are missing after a South Korean cruise ship capsized off the coast of Japan, officials said. The Keoyoung Sun was dispatched with its 11 crew on Wednesday near Mutsure Island, off the main island of Honshu in western Japan, about 1,000 miles (620 kilometers) from the city of Tokyo.

The coast guard initially said it had rescued nine of the 11 crew members, including the captain, two South Koreans, eight Indonesians and one Chinese. It was later said that one was alive but the condition of the other was unknown.

Authorities had previously stated that all nine people in the building were “unaware of the incident.” Rescue efforts continue for two more missing people. There is no current information about what caused the ship to sink.

According to Japanese broadcaster NHK, the crew warned the coast guard that the cargo ship capsized due to bad weather conditions while near Mutsure Island. Authorities said the cargo ship was carrying 980 tons of acrylic acid.

No leaks have been detected and authorities are investigating what environmental measures should be taken in the event of a leak. NHK footage showed a red-hulled boat and an overturned lifeboat, a coast guard boat hit by a large wave, and a plane flying overhead. The Coast Guard said the boat was completely submerged when rescue crews arrived at the scene.

Keoyoung Sun is a 69-meter (226-foot) chemical and oil tanker built in 1996, according to the professional website Vesselfinder.com. No comment has been received from the ship owner yet.