A fire erupted on a Japanese Self-Defence Forces ship on Sunday, leading to one crew member being hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. The incident occurred aboard the minesweeper “Ukushima,” which was sailing off the coast of Fukuoka Prefecture at approximately 9:40 a.m. local time (0040 GMT), according to the Maritime Self-Defence Force.
While the exact location and cause of the fire are still under investigation, footage aired by national broadcaster NHK showed black smoke rising from the center of the ship around 2:30 p.m. The fire is believed to have started in the engine room, where reports suggest that one crew member was trapped. However, the Maritime Self-Defence Force has yet to confirm this information, and efforts to contact the Japan Coast Guard over the weekend were unsuccessful.
Authorities continue to assess the situation as they work to determine the cause and extent of the damage.