After local vessels spent the majority of the night dousing the fire, the US military said that a fire on a US Navy ship off Japan was ultimately extinguished 12 hours early on Thursday.
According to a statement from the US 7th Fleet, two US sailors were treated for minor injuries sustained in the fire that started on the USS New Orleans on the southern island of Okinawa on Wednesday.
“The cause of the fire is currently under investigation… New Orleans’ crew will remain aboard the ship,” the statement said.
Off the White Beach Naval Facility, the 24,433-ton, 208.4-meter (684-foot) amphibious transport dock ship is anchored.
According to Japan’s Coast Guard, the US military first requested aid from Japan, then canceled the request before reiterating it at approximately 7:30 p.m. (1030 GMT).
Tetsuhiro Azumahiga, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, the navy, and private contractors, told AFP that four Japanese warships spent the night putting out the fire.
Approximately 54,000 US military soldiers are based in Japan, primarily on Okinawa.
