Japan ferry’s collision with whale injures 87

Image Source: New York Times

87 passengers in a high-speed ferry have been injured after it collided with a whale in the Sea of Japan.

The ship was headed to Sado Island from the port of Niigata on Saturday.

When en route, the ferry operators said that they the vessel had hit an object which left a 15 centimeter crack in the stern.

There were 121 passengers and 4 crew members on board at the time of the collision.

Of the 87 who were injured, 13 were reportedly in a serious condition. All those injured have been taken to the hospital.

Public broadcaster NHK quoted a marine wildlife expert who said that both minke and humpback whales are migrating through the Sea of Japan around this time of year.