At least 10 sailors are missing after a US navy guided-missile destroyer collided with a tanker in waters east of Singapore, the second accident involving an American warship in two months.
The US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said on Monday that the USS John S McCain sustained damage on its port side aft, or left rear, after colliding with a Liberian-flagged tanker in Malaysian waters at 5:24 am local time (21:24 GMT) as it was heading to Singapore for a routine port visit.
It said five sailors were hurt, four of whom had been evacuated for treatment for non-life threatening injuries, and one who did not require further medical attention.
One of the injured sailors, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Navin Ramdhun, posted a Facebook message telling family and friends that he was OK and awaiting surgery for an arm injury.
Vessels and aircraft from the United States, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia were searching for the missing 10 sailors, the Navy said.