Japanese authorities are investigating the reason for an oil tanker explosion three miles off the port of Himeji earlier this morning, with search teams still looking for the captain of the vessel.

Firefighters scrambled to contain a fire that engulfed the Japanese oil tanker Shoko Maru after an explosion at around 09:25 (01:25 BST) this morning.

The coast guard have reportedly recovered seven out of the eight person crew, but the 64-year-old captain remains missing at sea.

The oil tanker was carrying any oil when the incident occurred, which will reduce the impact of the disaster on the local environment.

The coast guard have set up an exclusion zone, but say that there is no major danger facing other ships in and around the port.