On Sunday, a fire broke out aboard a Japanese Self-Defence Forces vessel. According to the national broadcaster NHK, one crew member had been hospitalised for smoke inhalation.

The Maritime Self-Defence Force reported that the minesweeper Ukushima was sailing near the coast of Fukuoka Prefecture at the time the fire broke out. It was around 9:40 a.m. (0040 GMT) but the cause and location were still unknown.

NHK broadcast footage of black smoke rising from the middle of the ship around 2:30 pm.

NHK reported that the fire began in the engine-room, where a crew member was stranded. This information comes from the Japan Coast Guard. The Maritime Self-Defence Force spokesman could not confirm the information and the Coast Guard did not respond to calls made over the weekend. Reporting by Kevin Buckland, Editing by Raju Gopikrishnan

(source: Reuters)