Fire breaks out on MSDF minesweeper near Fukuoka in southwestern Japan

TOKYO, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — A fire broke out Sunday morning on a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) minesweeper vessel off the coast of southwestern prefecture of Fukuoka, local media reported.
The blaze broke out in the engine room at around 9:40 a.m. local time on the minesweeper Ukushima, which was sailing about 2 kilometers north of Oshima in Munakata city, Fukuoka Prefecture, public broadcaster NHK said, citing the MSDF and other authorities.
One crew member left behind in the engine room had inhaled smoke and complained of a sore throat and was transported to a fishing port in Munakata city where he was handed over to an ambulance, the report said.
As of 2:20 p.m. local time, NHK footage showed that grey smoke was seen rising from one of the two funnels at the rear of Ukushima.
The MSDF and the Japan Coast Guard are working to extinguish the fire and are investigating the incident.
Minesweepers are vessels tasked with removing mines laid in the sea, and Ukushima had about 40 crew members on board. ■