Nearly 100 injured in ferry collision

At least 87 passengers in a high speed ferry were injured in an apparent collision with a marine animal in the sea of Japan yesterday.

Five people were seriously injured in the accident, which occurred just before the hydrofoil was due to arrive on Sado island after a short trip from the mainland, the Japan Coast Guard said.

It is likely the ferry hit a whale, as both humpbacks and minks are often found in the area, public broadcaster NHK quoted a marine wildlife expert as saying.