Tokyo (CNN) More than 80 people were injured after a high-speed boat collided with a "marine creature" off the northwest coast of Japan, the country's Coast Guard told CNN.

The boat was carrying 121 passengers during the collision, injuring 87 people traveling on the vessel, according to the Coast Guard from the Niigata prefecture.

Five passengers had to be airlifted to hospital but they remained conscious. The crew of the high-speed vessel told officials that "it hit the object [which appeared] to be a marine creature."

The Coast Guard dispatched vessels and helicopters to investigate the cause of the collision, but they have yet to find the alleged animal or any other cause of the crash.

The incident occurred between Niigata and Sado Island, off Japan's northwest coast.</s>At least 87 passengers in a high speed ferry were injured in an apparent collision with a marine animal in the sea of Japan on Saturday, coastguards and media said.

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 minkes are often found in the area, public broadcaster NHK quoted a marine wildlife expert as saying.

"It was a huge impact," a passenger told public broadcaster NHK. "One person was bleeding."

There was damage to the back of the vessel, local media said, but the ferry -- with 121 passengers and four crew on board -- reached its destination without outside help, local media said.</s>Dozens of passengers on a high-speed ferry have been injured after the vessel crashed into what is believed to be a whale in Japan.

The accident is believed to have occurred just after midday off Sado Island, according to Kyodo News agency.

Five of those hurt were seriously injured and the collision caused a six-inch crack in the ferry's stern.

The hydrofoil wings of the boat were also damaged.

The ferry, which still managed to reach its intended destination, had been carrying 121 passengers and four crew members.

Roughly 80 of the passengers were reported to have been injured.

"After the sound of a bang … my throat hit the seat in front of me. People around me were moaning (because of pain)," one of the passengers told reporters.

Kyodo said the cause of the accident was under investigation, but that coast guard officials said the ferry may have struck a whale or other sea animal.

A marine expert quoted by the website said the scale of the impact suggests the ship struck a whale, especially as mink and humpback whales are currently migrating through the Sea of Japan.</s>TOKYO - A total of 87 people were injured as a jetfoil ferry apparently hit a whale off the Sado Island in the Sea of Japan, and the condition of five of these people is assessed as grave, the Kyodo news agency reported on Saturday.

The Ginga vessel, which was carrying 121 passengers and four crew members from the Niigata port to the Sado Island, collided with the marine animal at around 12:15 p.m. local time (03:15 GMT), the local media specified citing the Japanese Coast Guard and local authorities. The collision has resulted in 5.9-inch crack in the tail part of the ferry, and the hydrofoils were damaged as well.

Ginga is capable of accelerating up to 49 miles per hours, and this is why it is sometimes called a “marine aircraft.” It can carry up to 250 passengers.</s>More than 80 people were injured, with five of them in a critical condition, after a jetfoil ferry incident in the Sea of Japan on Saturday, according to local authorities. The vessel carrying 121 passengers and four crew apparently hit a large marine animal, presumably a whale, and sustained a 15-centimeter crack in the stern. Despite the damage, the high-speed boat, which connects the city of Niigata with the nearby Sado island, managed to reach its destination in Ryotsu port, according to ferry operator. Witnesses reported the sound of a bang as the collision occurred. “People around me were moaning [because of pain],” one of the passengers told journalists.</s>At least 87 people have been injured after a ferry collided with what is thought to have been a whale off a Japanese island.

The accident happened off Sado Island, the Kyodo News agency reported.

Five people were seriously injured and a 6inch crack was later found at the ferry's stern.

Ferry operator Sado Steam Ship Co said the jetfoil ferry managed to reach the island, located off the west coast of Japan's main island of Honshu.

The ferry, which departed from Honshu's Niigata Port, was carrying 121 passengers and four crew members.

The cause of the accident is under investigation by coast guard officials, who said the ferry may have struck a marine animal.

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

'It was a huge impact,' a passenger told public broadcaster NHK. 'One person was bleeding.'

There was damage to the back of the vessel, local media said, but the ferry - with 121 passengers and four crew on board - reached its destination without outside help, local media said.</s>The Ginga vessel, which was carrying 121 passengers and four crew members from the Niigata port to the Sado Island, collided with the marine animal at around 12:15 p.m. local time (03:15 GMT), the local media specified citing the Japanese Coast Guard and local authorities.

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The collision has resulted in 5.9-inch crack in the tail part of the ferry, and the hydrofoils were damaged as well.

Ginga is capable of accelerating up to 49 miles per hours, and this is why it is sometimes called a "marine aircraft." It can carry up to 250 passengers.</s>121 passengers and four crew members were on board at the time of the collision.

A Japanese hydrofoil ship which was en route to Sado Island from the port of Niigata has reportedly hit “marine life,” most likely a whale. Of the 121 passengers on board, at least 80 people were injured during the collision.

According to BBC News, ferry operators have reported a 15cm (6in) crack in its stern of the ship after it hit an object. A statement released reveals that the ferry hit “marine life” during the journey which caused the damage. In addition, part of the hydrofoil wing was bent during the collision.

While it has not been definitively confirmed that the Japanese ferry hit a whale, according to NHK, who spoke to the vice director of the municipal aquarium in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, Shinichiro Ikeguchi, it is believed that the level of impact damage indicates the ferry likely hit a whale.

In addition, Shinichiro Ikeguchi, who is considered a marine expert, also stated that mink and humpback whales are known to traverse the area in which the ferry was traveling prior to the accident. Currently, these varieties of whales are migrating through the Sea of Japan.

The Japanese ferry is propelled by a high-pressure jet of seawater and can travel at speeds of up to 80 kph (approximately 49.7 mph).

There were 121 passengers and four crew members on board during the ferry trip. Of those, at least 80 were injured — some seriously so.

“My throat hit the seat in front of me,” one passenger revealed. “People around me were moaning [in pain].”

According to Coast Guards, of those hurt, 13 were seriously injured and were taken to the hospital. NHK reports that all of those who were seriously injured were conscious prior to being treated.

According to The Japan Times, the accident occurred at approximately 12.15 p.m., local time, on Saturday, after leaving Niigata Port at 11:30 a.m. It is reported that crew members do instruct passengers to wear seat belts prior to each departure. It is also recommended by the crew that seat belts are worn while the ship is sailing. It is currently unclear how many passengers were wearing seat belts at the time of impact.

Even with the damage, it was reported by the ferry operator, Sado Steam Ship Co., that the Japanese ferry eventually made its way safely to its destination located off the west coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu at approximately 1:30 p.m., according to The Independent. However, the vessel was at least an hour late.

Currently, the incident is still under investigation.</s>87 injured after ferry 'may have struck a whale' off Japan's Sado island

87 injured after ferry 'may have struck a whale' off Japan's Sado island

The ferry was damaged en route to Soda Island off Japan. Pic: NHK

At least 87 people have been injured, five of them seriously, after a ferry hit what may have been a whale near Sado Island off Japan, local media and coast guards have said.

The Sado Steam Ship Co jetfoil, which was carrying 121 passengers and four crew, was left with a 15cm (6-inch) crack in its stern and damage to its hydrofoil wings.

"My throat hit the seat in front of me. People around me were moaning," one passenger told local media.

"It was a huge impact. One person was bleeding," a passenger told public broadcaster NHK, who quoted a marine wildlife expert who said both humpbacks and minkes are often found in the area.

The cause of the accident, which happened at 12.15pm on Saturday, is being investigated by coast guard officials, who said the boat may have struck a whale or other sea animal, the Kyodo news agency reported, quoting the agency.

The vessel had set out from the port of Niigata on mainland Japan at 11.30am, meaning it was three-quarters of the way to its destination around an hour's journey away, when the collision occurred.

The ferry completed its journey unaided, arriving at Ryotsu Port on Sado Island at 1.30pm, around an hour late.

Earlier the coast guard said 13 people were seriously injured, but were all conscious.

Pictures of injured people being taken off the boat on stretchers were shown in TV news reports.

The hydrofoil, which is propelled by a high pressure jet of seawater, operates at a speed of 80 kph (49mph), and normally takes around an hour to make the trip.</s>A ferry collided with a marine animal — possibly a whale — off a Japanese island Saturday, injuring more than 80 people, local media reported.

The accident happened just after noon off Sado Island, Kyodo News agency reported, citing Japan’s coast guard.

Five of the injuries were serious and a 6-inch crack was found at the ferry’s stern. But ferry operator Sado Steam Ship Co. said the jetfoil ferry still reached its intended destination on the island, located off the west coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu, according to Kyodo.

The ferry was carrying 121 passengers and four crew members.

The cause of the accident was under investigation by coast guard officials, who said the ferry may have struck a whale or some other sea animal, Kyodo reported.
A Japanese high-speed boat collides with a "marine creature" while carrying 121 passengers; 87 passengers are injured and 5 airlifted by helicopter to the hospital.