TOKYO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- A South Korean-flagged chemical tanker capsized on Wednesday morning off the coast of Mutsure Island in the Japanese western prefecture of Yamaguchi, local media reported.
There were 11 crew on board the tanker, Keoyoung Sun, including two South Koreans and nine other foreign nationals. So far, four people have been rescued near the scene, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing the Japan Coast Guard.
An emergency call was made to rescue the tanker in the west of Mutsure Island off Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, at around 7:05 a.m. local time on Wednesday (2205 GMT on Tuesday), saying: "The ship is tilted due to bad weather. We need rescue," NHK reported.
According to the coast guard, the ship had capsized because it had been anchored due to rough weather, and rescue efforts are continuing as the safety of the missing crew is unknown. ■