The Japan Coast Guard says at least 13 crewmembers have been rescued since a Hong Kong-registered cargo ship reportedly became flooded off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture late on Tuesday.

Coast Guard officials received a distress call from the vessel "Jintian" past 11 p.m. on Tuesday. The vessel was traveling off the Danjo Islands in the East China Sea at the time. The officials said the crew told them the vessel tilted and became flooded with water.

The vessel has a crew of 22, with 14 Chinese and eight Myanmar nationals. A report from a ship sailing nearby said the crew had moved onto lifeboats by about 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The vessel reportedly sank shortly later.

The Japanese and South Korean coast guards, the Japan Self-Defense Forces and private ships have been engaged in search and rescue efforts. The 13 survivors were rescued before noon. Their conditions are not known.

The operation is continuing.