One person was confirmed dead and nine others are still missing after a cargo ship capsized off Nagasaki prefecture in southwestern Japan, the Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday, citing Beijing's Consulate-General in Nagasaki.

According to the consulate-general, 14 Chinese and eight crew members from Myanmar were on the Hong Kong-registered cargo ship.

There were 22 people aboard the 6,651-ton ship named Jintian.

Japan's coast guard said it received a distress call made around 12:15pm Hong Kong time on Tuesday from about 110 km west of the Danjo Islands.

The Japanese coast guard said there were two casualties.

Patrol boats and aircraft are searching for those who are missing. The coast guard, however, has said the search and rescue efforts are being hampered by powerful winds in the vicinity of the sunken cargo ship.

When the cargo ship issued the distress call, a gale warning was in force, according to local reports.

Five crew members, four of which were Chinese, have been picked up by a vessel from China, according to the consulate-general.

One crew member from Myanmar died, and seven others were reported to be in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest, the consulate general added. (Xinhua)
_____________________________
Last updated: 2023-01-26 HKT 02:35