Japanese ferry collides with animal, 49 injured

TOKYO, Apr 9 (Reuters) Forty-nine people were injured today 13 seriously, when a high-speed ferry collided with a large marine animal off the coast of the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, Kyodo news reported.

The Toppy 4 ferry with 103 passengers onboard was heading from Yaku Island to the city of Kagoshima when the accident occurred off Cape Sata, the southernmost point of the four main Japanese islands, Kyodo reported citing the Japan Coast Guard.

One of the boats crew members was quoted as saying the ferry ''collided with a whale-like marine animal''.

Hydrofoil boats travel on foils or ''wings'' that raise the hull above the water reducing drag and allowing the vessel to travel at very high speeds.

Similar collisions between ferries and animals, off the western coast of Japan, were reported earlier this year.

REUTERS SY RS1910