U.S. sailors’ bodies found on navy ship

TOKYO — The bodies of “a number” of U.S. sailors who went missing after their destroyer collided with a cargo ship off the coast of Japan have been found in the section of the vessel that was damaged, the U.S. Seventh Fleet said today.

“As search and rescue crews gained access to the spaces that were damaged during the collision this morning, the missing sailors were located in the flooded berthing compartments,” it said in a statement.

“They are currently being transferred to Naval Hospital Yokosuka where they will be identified.

“The families are being notified. The names of the sailors will be released after all notifications are made.”

Seven sailors had been reported missing after the USS Fitzgerald collided with the Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal early Saturday.