Four crew die on freighter in Japan

Four crew members were killed when a freighter broke apart after running aground off the southwest coast of Japan, officials said today.

Last night 18 sailors were rescued from the Panamanian-registered Co-op Venture, but three later died in hospital.

Another body was found near the 35,000 ton ship, the Coast Guard said.

Japanese TV showed pictures of the vessel split in half, but mostly above water. She sat about a mile from the shore in waters 10ft deep.

The ship, which was carrying corn from the US, had sought shelter from tropical storm Fengshen in Shibushi Bay, off Kyushu Island, about 615 miles southwest of Tokyo.

Fuel was leaking from the vessel, but workers were waiting for the weather to improve before beginning cleanup efforts.

Fengshen swirled over the island late last night and early today, bringing heavy rains and strong winds.

It was not immediately clear who among the 15 Philippine and 4 Indian crew members had died or how they were killed, the Coast Guard said.