Destroyer runs aground, leaks oil in waters off west Japan

Tokyo, Jan 10 A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyer ran aground in waters off the western prefecture of Yamaguchi on Tuesday, local media cited the Coast Guard and the Ministry of Defence as saying.

According to the local media, the JS Inazuma destroyer is leaking oil following the vessel apparently hitting some rocks on the seabed, reports Xinhua news agency.

The incident was reported to the coast guard at around 12.30 p.m. by the crew of the destroyer who said they felt a powerful "vibration in the hull".

Japan's public broadcaster NHK said that the Ministry of Defence and the Coast Guard confirmed the destroyer came into contact with rocks on the seabed and was unable to move.

According to the latest reports, no one was injured in the incident, although a small amount of oil may have leaked into the sea as a result of damage to the vessel.

Around 20 crew members on the deck of the stranded vessel were seen throwing what appeared to be a white sheet into the sea to absorb the oil that had flowed out of the stricken destroyer, NHK said.