Seven sailors lost their lives after a South Korean-flagged tanker capsized off the western coast of Japan. According to Japan’s coast guard, rescuers discovered two additional crew members, with one conscious and the condition of the other remaining uncertain.

The incident occurred when the Keoyoung Sun issued a distress call around 07:00 local time on Wednesday (22:00 GMT Tuesday) off the coast of Yamaguchi prefecture. The search continues for two missing sailors from the vessel.

Reportedly, the ship was anchored due to adverse weather conditions, although specifics regarding its cargo have not been disclosed. The vessel is categorized as an “oil/chemical tanker” based on information from shipping platforms.

The rescue operation is concentrated near the city of Shimonoseki in Japan’s southwest region.

According to Japanese media, the crew of the capsized tanker includes two Koreans, eight Indonesians, and one Chinese citizen. Weather reports indicate that winds of up to 54km (33 miles) per hour were recorded in the vicinity on Wednesday.