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 p.m.
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.
(Reporting by Kevin Buckland; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
