Fire breaks out on Japan navy ship, cause under investigation

Fire breaks out on Japan navy ship, cause under investigation

World

Fire breaks out on Japan navy ship, cause under investigation

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TOKYO (Reuters) - A fire broke out on a Japanese Self-Defence Forces ship on Sunday, with national broadcaster NHK reporting that one crew member was hospitalised due to smoke inhalation.

The Maritime Self-Defence Force said the minesweeper "Ukushima" was sailing off the coast of Fukuoka Prefecture when the fire occurred at around 9:40 a.m. local time (0040 GMT), but said the location and cause was still being determined.

Footage on NHK showed black smoke billowing out from the centre of the ship at around 2:30 pm.

NHK said the fire started in the engine room, where one crew member became stranded, citing the Japan Coast Guard. The Maritime Self-Defence Force spokesman was not able to confirm the information, and calls to the Coast Guard on the weekend were unanswered.