The Japanese Navy Is Still Investigating The Burning Of The Ukushima Mine Sweeping Ship

Illustration - Officers extinguished the burning KM Persada X ship at one of the ship's docks. BETWEEN/Dik Suhartono/ZK/pri.

JAKARTA - A fire broke out in a Japanese warship sailing near the western part of the country. The Japanese Navy said one crew was rushed to hospital for inhaling smoke while the other was missing.

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) said the Ukushima mine sweeper was sailing off the north coast of Fukuoka on Kyushu Island when the fire broke out around 9:40 AM local time (00 40 GMT).

JMSDF Chief of Staff Admiral Akira Saito was quoted as saying by Reuters on Sunday, November 10, that fire fighting efforts were underway from 8:30 PM (11 30 GMT) after his crew except for those missing were evacuated to other ships.

The fire broke out in the Fukushima engine room and several explosion sounds have been heard. The cause, said Saito, is being investigated.

The mine sweeper is on its way southeast of Kyushu for next week's mine war games.

Ukushima may sink if the fire continues to burn. Saito added that JMSDF had never sunk its warship because of the fire.

"We will do our best to extinguish the fire and find the missing crew members," he said.