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ACCIDENT-JAPAN
Nearly 100 injured in Japan ferry collision
TOKYO, March 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – At least 87 passengers in a high speed
ferry were injured in an apparent collision with a marine animal in the sea
of Japan on Saturday, coastguards and media said.
Five people were seriously injured in the accident, which occurred just
before the hydrofoil was due to arrive on Sado island after a short trip from
the mainland, the Japan Coast Guard said.
It is likely the ferry hit a whale, as both humpbacks and minks are often
found in the area, public broadcaster NHK quoted a marine wildlife expert as
saying.
“It was a huge impact,” a passenger told public broadcaster NHK. “One
person was bleeding.”
There was damage to the back of the vessel, local media said, but the
ferry — with 121 passengers and four crew on board — reached its
destination without outside help, local media said.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1740 hrs