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Indian sailor killed in ship fire

Tokyo: An Indian sailor was killed and nine others were missing after a freighter, with 25 Indians in its crew, caught fire and ran aground in stormy weather off the coast of eastern Japan.

At least 13 crew members of the Panamanian-registered cargo ship were washed overboard on Friday and four of them — all Indians — were rescued.

One of them, a 34-year-old Indian, died later at a hospital while two sustained serious injuries, Japan Coast Guard officials said.

The 98,600-tonne Giant Step was caught in strong winds and heavy rain and broke into two in the waters off Kamisu, they said. The vessel with a crew of 26 — 25 Indians and a Pakistani — was also damaged by a fire in a cabin and its engines failed.

Thirteen more crew members trapped inside the vessel were rescued on Saturday morning and airlifted to safety. The search for the nine missing men was continuing, the officials said. — PTI

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