2 missing after South Korean chemicals tanker capsizes off Japan

The spokesman said he was not aware of the conditions of those rescued, who were rushed to hospital.

Footage from Japanese broadcaster NHK showed the overturned red hull of the ship as well as a life raft, as a coastguard ship pounded through heavy waves and a helicopter flew overhead.

The crew notified the coastguard early on Wednesday that the vessel was tilting and requested help near the island of Mutsure, off Japan’s southwestern coast, NHK said.

The Japan Coast Guard received a rescue call soon after 7am local time (2200 GMT on Tuesday) saying the ship was “tilting, please help us”, the spokesman said.

NHK named the vessel as the Keoyoung Sun, which specialist website vesselfinder.com said is a chemical and oil products tanker built in 1996, measuring 69 metres (226 feet) in length.

The ship’s operator declined to comment.