The South Korean Coast Guard conducts a search and rescue operation for a capsized cargo ship in waters 150km southeast of Seogwipo city on Jeju Island, January 25, 2023. (Photo: Yonhap/VNA)
On January 26, China Global Television (CGTN) quoted a government official as saying that the death toll in the incident cargo ship capsized off the coast of Japan’s Nagasaki prefecture has increased to 8 people, including 6 Chinese.
Consul General of China in Fukuoka city, Mr. Lu Guijun said that 5 people who were rescued are now in stable health. Meanwhile, 9 people are still missing.
The Jintian with a tonnage of 6,651 tons, registered in Hong Kong (China), was carrying 22 Chinese and Myanmar crew members at the time of the accident.
According to the Japan Coast Guard, the Jintian ship sent an emergency signal on the night of January 24 when it was about 110km west of the Danjo Islands. After that, the ship sank at 2:46 am (local time) on January 25 in the sea between Nagasaki province (Japan) and Jeju island (South Korea).
It is not clear what caused the ship to crash. A spokesman for the Japan Coast Guard said that at the time the ship sank, there were strong winds. Earlier this week, several typhoons made landfall in areas of western Japan, causing strong winds and cold air.