Japanese warship rams into container vessel

Japanese defense officials say a navy destroyer has collided with a commercial ship off Japan's southern coast Tuesday, starting fires on both ships.

The incident, which injured three crew members happened on Tuesday night in the waters of Kanmon Strait, just south of Japan's main island of Kyushu, reports Associated Press. The AP report says the fire on board the 7,400 ton, South Korean container ship, Carina Star, was extinguished shortly after the collision and none of its crew have been reported injured. The fire aboard the Japanese navy destroyer JS Kurama was still burning well into the night with two crew members being treated for smoke inhalation and another with minor cuts and bruises. A defense ministry spokesperson, who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity, said the destroyer's hull was badly damaged, but could still stay on course to its destination alone. The warship had 360 crew on board and was on its way to its home port of Sasebo, after it took part in Japan's triennial fleet review in Yokosuka, where it served as flagship for the event, reports AP. Japan's defense minister has apologized for the accident and has set up a task force to investigate.