Japan, October 28: A Japanese naval escort ship and a South Korean container ship collided late yesterday between two islands in southern Japan, the Defence Ministry said.
One crew member aboard the 5200-tonne escort ship Kurama was slightly injured fighting a fire after the collision at 9:56 pm (AEDT), a ministry spokesman said.
Two others were treated for smoke inhalation, he said.
The 7400-tonne container ship also caught fire but the blaze was immediately brought under control, he said. None of its crew members were injured.
Fire-fighting activities continued aboard the naval vessel two hours after the collision in the Kammon Straits between the two main Japanese islands of Honshu and Kyushu, the spokesman said.
He could not immediately confirm press reports could not navigate on its own nor drop anchor.
The Kurama was on its way back from a fleet review on Sunday in Sagami Bay, south of Tokyo, to its home port of Sasebo on Kyushu, the spokesman said.
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Now young Jessica doesn’t look as stupid! It a navy boat could not locate a cargo vessel???? hmmm
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Jen of Brisbane
Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa held a news conference shortly after the incident expressing regret.
“We deeply apologise to the people for causing concerns,”he said. “We will quickly find out what caused the accident.”
—Agencies