A Japanese military submarine collided with a merchant ship in the Pacific Ocean on Monday

On Monday, a submarine of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force collided with a Hong Kong bulk carrier not far from Shikoku Island in southern Japan in the Pacific Ocean, sustaining more serious damage than was initially reported. Part of the submarine's command tower, 84 meters long, was destroyed, and the system that allows you to control the depth of diving and the communication systems, including the antennas, were also damaged: for this reason, the accident was was communicated over three hours late to the prefecture of Ashizuri in the south of the island and via mobile phone.

Japan's Defense Minister, Nobuo Kishi, said the submarine failed to avoid the collision despite the ship being seen through the periscope during the surfacing phase and that the ministry will work with Maritime Force and Coast Guard officials to clarify the circumstances of the accident. Three crew members of the submarine were slightly injured in the collision, which was taken to the port of Kobe near Osaka on Tuesday. The bulk carrier, on which there were about twenty crew members, was not damaged.