A U.S. Navy warship caught fire off the coast of Okinawa on August 20, prompting an overnight firefighting effort involving Japanese forces and civilian support vessels.
The Navy’s Seventh Fleet said two sailors suffered minor injuries in the incident.
The fire broke out aboard the USS New Orleans (LPD 18), a San Antonio-class dock landing ship, near White Beach in Uruma City. The blaze began in the late afternoon and triggered an immediate emergency response.
Japanese Self-Defense Forces and civilian tugboats assisted through the night, dousing the vessel with water at the request of U.S. authorities. Pumping operations were suspended just before 9 a.m. local time on August 21, while U.S. personnel continued to check whether the fire had been completely extinguished, the Japan Coast Guard said.
The Seventh Fleet, headquartered at Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture, confirmed that “two sailors sustained minor injuries” during the firefighting effort. Both were treated on site, officials said.
Japanese Coast Guard units have remained in the area, maintaining surveillance and safety patrols until the Navy confirms full extinguishment. Authorities said the situation remains under close watch, although no further spread of the fire has been reported.
The USS New Orleans is part of the forward-deployed amphibious fleet in the Pacific. Designed for transporting Marines, equipment, and landing craft, the ship plays a central role in expeditionary missions and amphibious operations.
While the cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed, Navy officials are expected to carry out a full investigation once the ship is secured.
As of Thursday morning, the U.S. Navy said its teams were focused on assessing the damage and ensuring the fire was fully out. The Japan Coast Guard confirmed it would continue monitoring until complete safety was established.