Fire breaks out on US naval ship off Japan's Okinawa

A fire has broken out on US naval ship New Orleans off southern Japan's Okinawa prefecture but there are no reports of any injuries, the Japan Coast Guard says.

An official from Japan's Defence Ministry said the country's Self-Defence Forces were engaging in firefighting efforts but that no further details were available.

The JCG said one of its ships near the US vessel was also preparing to join the effort to bring the blaze under control, adding that no oil leaks had been observed in nearby waters.