US Navy Destroyer Collides With Merchant Vessel Off Japan, 7 Reported Missing

Saturday, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer collided with a merchant vessel off of the coast of Japan. The incident involved the USS Fitzgerald and occurred at around 2:30AM local time, 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan.

The Hill reports:

A U.S. guided-missile destroyer collided with a merchant ship Saturday morning local time off the coast of Japan, U.S. 7th Fleet said in a news release. TRENDING: BREAKING REPORT: President Trump to Nominate Amy Coney Barrett to Replace Ginsburg on the Supreme Court Citing the Japanese Coast Guard, Japanese news agency NHK reportedthat seven crew members aboard the U.S. destroyer were missing and one was injured after the collision.

The 7th Fleet continues to update press around the world via Twitter:

UPDATE: USS Fitzgerald involved in a collision with Philippine-flagged merchant vessel ACX Crystal. Japanese Coast Guard are on scene. — 7th Fleet (@US7thFleet) June 16, 2017

#FITZ UPDATE: The extent of damage is being determined. The ship experienced flooding in some spaces. — 7th Fleet (@US7thFleet) June 16, 2017

#FITZ UPDATE: There are no reports of casualties at this time. — 7th Fleet (@US7thFleet) June 16, 2017

#FITZ UPDATE: Working with the Japanese Coast Guard to conduct a medevac. Extent of all personnel injuries is still being determined. — 7th Fleet (@US7thFleet) June 16, 2017