A Japanese oil tanker exploded off the nation’s south-west coast today, leaving one of the eight people aboard missing.

Reports claim four of them were injured, suffering severe burns, in the accident near Himeji port – around 280 miles west of Tokyo.

Pictures show the 998-tonne Shoko Maru tanker tilted to its left in the water following the incident.

Local reports suggest seven people were rescued however a search for the tanker’s captain is still ongoing.

The tanker is believed to have unloaded its cargo of crude oil and was stationary close to the coast when the explosion took place. The cause of the explosion has not yet been identified.