A fire that broke out aboard a US Navy ship anchored off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa was extinguished early Thursday after burning for more than 12 hours, the US 7th Fleet confirmed.
The blaze erupted Wednesday on the USS New Orleans, a 208-metre, 24,433-ton amphibious transport dock ship stationed off the White Beach Naval Facility. Two sailors sustained minor injuries and were treated on board.
“The cause of the fire is currently under investigation… New Orleans’ crew will remain aboard the ship,” the fleet said in a statement.
Japan’s Coast Guard said the US military initially requested help to fight the blaze, cancelled the request, and later renewed it around 7:30 p.m. local time. Four Japanese vessels, from the Coast Guard, navy, and private contractors, battled the flames through the night until the fire was brought under control.
The incident underscored the close coordination between US and Japanese forces, with around 54,000 American military personnel stationed in Japan, most of them in Okinawa.
Written By Rodney Mbua
