Search and rescue operations are continuing for nine people missing after a US nuclear submarine collided with a Japanese fishing boat southeast of Honolulu, sinking the vessel, US officials said.
Search continues after US sub hits Japanese ship
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Thirty-five people had been aboard the ship, but 26 were rescued about an hour after the boat went down in Friday's collision near Hawaii, coast guard officials said. A Japanese government spokesman said the capsized boat was a training ship and high school students were among those missing.
The crew included 13 high school students, two teachers and 20 professional crew members who were trawling for tuna. According to US media reports, the missing included four students, two teacher and three crew members.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said Saturday that the United States has apologized for the accident.
"The US side has apologized and explained that it was doing its utmost in the search," Premier Mori told reporters when he summoned a special risk management meeting on the accident.
"Right now, we have to do everything possible to find missing people."
Four US naval and coast guard vessels and two US aircraft were searching the area for the missing.
Twelve of the survivors were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The extent of their injuries was unknown.
Officials with Japan's coast guard said the boat was the 499-tonne training ship Ehime Maru from a fisheries high school in Uwajima on the western Japan island of Shikoku.
The submarine, the USS Greenville, based in Pearl Harbour north of Honolulu, was at first thought to have sustained no damage, but upon closer inspection US naval officials said early Saturday that there was "superficial damage" to the sub's exterior.
The submarine, which was on routine operations, "was surfacing when its stern apparently collided with a motor vessel," Mr Smith said.
AFP