10 sailors missing, 5 injured in U.S. destroyer's collision with merchant vessel

SINGAPORE, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ten sailors were missing and five others injured in U.S. destroyer's collision with a merchant vessel near the Strait of Malacca, according to a statement issued by the U.S. navy Monday morning.

USS John S. McCain collided with a merchant vessel while underway east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore at 6:24 a.m. local time (2224 GMT on Sunday) , the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement, with initial reports saying the ship's port side aft sustained damage.

However, the damaged destroyer is still sailing toward the port under its own power.