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A high-speed passenger ferry hit a suspected whale in Kagoshima Prefecture and 49 people were injured, a Coast Guard official said Sunday.
The boat, carrying 109 passengers and crew, hit the suspected whale near Kagoshima, according to the Coast Guard official who identified himself only by his last name, Uchida.
Seven of the most seriously injured passengers were transported to land by rescue boat, Uchida said. He had no information on the extent of the injuries.
The other passengers remained on the ferry, which wasn't in immediate danger of sinking, he said.
The Coast Guard received a distress call from the boat, which was heading to Kagoshima from Tanegashima island about 90 kilometers away, shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday, according to Uchida.
Officials thought the boat had collided with a whale or some other large sea animal.
The boat, carrying 109 passengers and crew, hit the suspected whale near Kagoshima, according to the Coast Guard official who identified himself only by his last name, Uchida.
Seven of the most seriously injured passengers were transported to land by rescue boat, Uchida said. He had no information on the extent of the injuries.
The other passengers remained on the ferry, which wasn't in immediate danger of sinking, he said.
The Coast Guard received a distress call from the boat, which was heading to Kagoshima from Tanegashima island about 90 kilometers away, shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday, according to Uchida.
Officials thought the boat had collided with a whale or some other large sea animal.
kraken..
