Japanese Rescue Chinese Cargo Ship Crew, Netizens Suspicious
by Peter Barefoot on Monday, October 22, 2012
Chinese Cargo Ship Catches Fire, 64 Crew Members Rescued by Japan Coast Guard
Xinhua.net, Tokyo October 21st report (Reporter Guo Yina). Officials of China’s embassy in Japan said on the 21st that a Chinese cargo ship on the night of the 20th caught on fire in the waters near Okinawa, with the ship’s 64 crew members already having been rescued. According to reports, as this Chinese ship was sailing in the waters near Okinawa, the rear of the ship caught fire. The headquarters of the Japan Coast Guard District 11 immediately launched a rescue after receiving the report. In the early morning of the 21st, all 64 crew members were rescued, with 3 of them having minor injuries. After China’s consulate general in Fukuoka received the report from the Japanese in the early hours of the 21st, it immediately started emergency response protocols, maintaining close communications with Japanese officials, and requested Japan’s full assistance in rescuing the wounded. At present, China’s consulate general is actively coordinating with Japanese officials to send all crew members back as soon as possible. Photo [above] is of the Chinese cargo ship on fire in the seas around Okinawa.
Location of the incident.
Television news report.
Photos taken by Japan’s Coast Guard of the Chinese cargo ship on fire.