THE CONSULATE General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Osaka, Japan, has received information regarding a South Korean-flagged ship that sank in the waters of Shimonoseki, Japan, Wednesday (20/3). The sinking of the Keoyoung Sun ship reportedly killed eight of its crew.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Osaka immediately coordinated with the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) in the Kyushu region and received initial information that the ship was carrying 11 crew members, consisting of eight Indonesian citizens, two South Korean citizens and a Chinese citizen.
“Nine crew members were found, of which eight died. The identities of the nine crew members are not yet known,” said the Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and Indonesian Legal Entities (PWNI and BHI) of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, in a short statement, Wednesday (20/3).
Judha added that the other two crew members had not been found. Currently, said Judha, an intensive search is still being carried out by the Japanese Coast Guard.
“The Indonesian Consulate General in Osaka continues to coordinate with JCG and the hospital for the search and identification process,” continued Judha.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has attempted to contact families in Indonesia to inform them of this disaster. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with relevant Ministries/Institutions to ensure that the rights of Indonesian citizens are protected,” he concluded.
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A South Korean-flagged chemical tanker carrying 11 people capsized in the high seas off the coast of Japan, Wednesday (20/3). Eight crew members from Indonesia were on the ship.
“Six crew members have so far been rescued, and the coast guard is still searching for five others. “Meanwhile two South Korean citizens, eight Indonesian citizens and one Chinese citizen were on the ship at the time of the incident,” said the Japanese official.
The tanker was carrying acrylic acid, but there is no information regarding the condition of the acid. He said he did not know the condition of the people who were rescued and rushed to hospital.
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Footage from Japanese television station NHK showed the ship’s red hull capsized and a life raft as the coast guard boat was hit by a huge wave and a helicopter flew overhead.
The crew notified the coast guard early Wednesday that the ship was listing and requested help near Mutsure Island, off Japan’s southwestern coast.
“The Japanese Coast Guard received a rescue call shortly after 07.00 saying that the ship is listing, please help us,” continued the official.
NHK said the ship was Keoyoung Sun, which according to specialist website vesselfinder.com is a chemical and oil products tanker built in 1996, measuring 69 meters long. Meanwhile, the ship operator refused to comment. (AFP/Z-8)
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