YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP) — The Latest on a U.S. ship collision (all times local):
11:15 a.m.
The U.S. says the bodies of who went missing in the collision between the USS and a container ship have been found aboard the stricken destroyer.
The says in a statement that searchers had gained access to the spaces that were damaged during the collision. A total of seven had been missing since Saturday’s crash off Japan’s coast.
The says the remains are being transferred to Naval Hospital Yokosuka where they will be identified.
It says the families are being notified and being provided the support they need during “this difficult time.” The names of the will be released after all notifications are made.
7:30 a.m.
The U.S. says the search is continuing for seven missing American in the sea off Japan, after a collision between a destroyer and a huge cargo ship.
The says it remains uncertain how long it will take to gain access to the spaces inside the damaged destroyer in order to methodically search for the missing crew members.
Aircraft and vessels have been looking for the missing personnel since the two ships crashed in the pre-dawn hours Saturday.
The USS is back at its home port in Yokosuka Naval Base south of Tokyo, with extensive damage to its hull.
The says the ship was damaged above and below the water line.
In a tweet Sunday, the says the search for the missing is continuing.
Investigators now face trying to determine how a sophisticated U.S. warship collided with a container ship four times its size.
