A tragic incident occurred in Japan's East China Sea on Wednesday when a 6,551-ton cargo ship registered in Hong Kong, the Jin Tian, sank after sending a distress call at around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Two crew members were killed and nine others were reported missing. The search for the missing nine continues, although the cause of the ship's sinking is still unknown. Poor weather conditions have hindered Japanese patrol boats and aircraft from searching for the missing individuals.
A few such tragic incidents have happened in the recent past. Some of them are:
The MV Sewol - This South Korean cargo ship sank in April 2014, killing over 300 people, mainly high school students on a school trip. The ship was overloaded and lacked proper safety equipment, and the captain and crew were found guilty of negligence and misconduct.
The MV Derbyshire - This British cargo ship sank in September 1980, killing all 44 crew members. The ship was built to carry iron ore and was considered one of the largest and strongest cargo ships of its time. However, it was found that the ship had structural weaknesses and poor design, leading to its tragic sinking.
The MV El Faro - This American cargo ship sunk in October 2015, killing all 33 crew members. The ship was caught in Hurricane Joaquin, and the crew was unable to outrun the storm due to equipment failures and poor decision-making.
The MV Dona Paz - This Filipino ferry and cargo ship collided with an oil tanker in December 1987, killing over 4,000 people. It is considered one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters in history.
The MV Kamome Maru - This Japanese cargo ship sank in September 1977, killing all 17 crew members. The ship was carrying a cargo of coal and was hit by a typhoon, causing it to capsize and sink.
The MV Prince of Wales - This British cargo ship sank in June 1940, killing all 47 crew members. The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine during World War II.
The MV MSC Napoli - This Maltese cargo ship ran aground and broke apart in January 2007, releasing hundreds of containers of hazardous materials into the sea. The ship's crew was rescued, but the ship and its cargo were a total loss.
The MV Alondra Rainbow - This Panamanian cargo ship sank in June 2000, killing all 16 crew members. The ship was carrying a cargo of steel and was hit by a rogue wave, causing it to capsize and sink.
The MV Al-Salam Boccaccio 98 - This Egyptian ferry and cargo ship caught fire and sank in February 2006, killing over 1,000 people. The ship was carrying over 1,400 passengers and crew, and the lack of proper safety measures and evacuation procedures contributed to the high death toll.
The MV Hebei Spirit - This South Korean oil tanker and cargo ship was hit by a crane barge in December 2007, causing a massive oil spill and environmental damage. The ship was carrying a cargo of crude oil, and the accident resulted in a significant loss of the ship's cargo and damage to the environment.
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