Eight crew members have been confirmed to be dead after a chemical tanker capsized from South Korea off Japan’s western coast on Wednesday.

NHK, a public broadcaster, has said that the Japanese coast guard got a distress call from Keoyoung Sun, which was tilting owing to heavy waves as it was anchored off Mutsure Island.

The capsized vessel was upside down when the coast guard vessels reached. Almost 11 individuals were on the vessel.

Rescue team members found a person alive, while the search continued for two missing crew members. According to the Japanese coast guard, the crew included two South Koreans, eight Indonesians, and a Chinese national.

Officials have said that the tanker was loaded with almost 980 tons of acrylic acid, typically used in paints, floor polishers, personal care items, and detergents.

There has been no evidence until now of the acid spilling into the water. Some of the information for the report came from Reuters, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse.

Reference: VOA News