US Navy destroyer collides with merchant ship off the coast of Japan

According to the US military a Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan and there have been reports of injuries too.

In a brief written statement, US Pacific Fleet in Hawaii said the Navy has requested assistance from the Japanese Coast Guard.

It said on Friday that USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant ship 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan.

A US defense official said there is flooding in three compartments of the Fitzgerald and there were injuries. Pacific Fleet said the extent of injuries and damage to the Fitzgerald are "being determined," and the incident is under investigation.