US navy destroyer collides with Philippine vessel off Japan, 7 missing

TOKYO -- Seven crew members went missing after a US Navy destroyer collided with a container vessel from the Philippines off central Japan early Saturday, local media reported.

The US Navy's guided-missile destroyer Fitzgerald collided with the Philippine vessel around 2:30 a.m. local time (1730 GMT Friday) about 100 kilometers southwest of Yokosuka, said the reports.

Neither of the ships were in danger of sinking, said the reports.

Japan's Coast Guard has sent vessels and a helicopter to look into the incident.