Eight rescued after Korean tanker capsizes off Japan

A South Korean tanker is seen capsized off Mutsure Island, Japan
The Keoyoung Sun chemical tanker sent a distress call while taking refuge near Mutsure Island. -AP

A South Korean tanker has capsized off an island in southwestern Japan, with the coast guard rescuing eight crew members and searching for three who are missing.

The coast guard said it received a distress call from the Keoyoung Sun chemical tanker early on Wednesday, saying it was tilting while taking refuge near Japan's Mutsure Island due to rough weather.

The island is just off the southwestern end of Japan's main island of Honshu, about 1000km from Tokyo.

The ship was completely capsized by the time rescuers arrived at the scene, the coast guard said.

Footage on NHK television showed the ship completely upside down, a rough sea washing over its red underside.

The conditions of the rescued crew members were not known.

The ship was carrying a South Korean captain, and its crew included another South Korean national, a Chinese and eight Indonesians, according to the coast guard.

No other details, including how the ship capsized, were immediately known.