Panama-Flagged Cargo Ship Sinks; 17 Crew Members Rescued & One Still Missing

South Korean officials have rescued 17 of 18 crew members from Vietnam onboard a container vessel that lost touch with authorities in the Sea of Japan. However, a crew member has fallen overboard and gone missing.

Reports from Japan Coast Guard personnel state that the Panama-registered vessel was northwest of Okinoshima Island, approximately 380 kilometres apart, when it sent out a distress call on Wednesday. The ship had set sail toward Kinuura Port in central Japan from Russia’s Nakhodka Port.

A ship that was navigating in the accident site found 17 seamen in a lifeboat. South Korean officials had rescued them on Thursday morning.

No one among them is reportedly in any life-threatening condition. The container vessel appears to have sunk. The Japan Coast Guard plans on sending two boats to look for the missing individual.

Reference: nhk.or.jp