The Japan Coast Guard says eight crew members of a capsized South Korean-flagged tanker have died.

The ship with 11 crew members on board overturned on Wednesday morning in waters off western Japan. One crew member has been rescued. A search is underway for two others still missing.

The local coast guard says it received a distress signal at around 7:00 a.m. from the chemical tanker Keoyoungsun near Mutsurejima, an island in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Coast guard officials say the tanker had been at anchor due to rough weather.

They say eight Indonesians, two South Koreans and one Chinese were on board. Strong winds were blowing in the area, with waves reaching as high as 3.5 meters.