(Updated 14:30 BJT）

Damage to a US Navy destroyer was "significant" after it collided with a Philippine container ship off Japan early on Saturday morning, the commander of the United States Navy's Seventh Fleet said on Sunday.

"There was a big gash under the water," Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin told a news conference at Yokosuka naval base, adding that the warship came close to sinking or foundering after the collision.

The USS Fitzgerald is salvageable, but repairs will likely take months.

Seven missing sailors confirmed dead

The bodies of seven US sailors have been found inside the US Navy destroyer, a US Navy official told CNN. 

The US military will now proceed to confirm the identities of the dead sailors, who were discovered in the flooded berthing compartments. "The families are being notified and being provided the support they need during this difficult time. The names of the sailors will be released after all notifications are made."

At least three sailors, including the ship's commander, were injured and were medically evacuated from the ship to a hospital by a Japanese Coast Guard helicopter, The Japan Times reported. The ship's commander is now in a stable condition, according to the US Navy. 

US destroyer the USS Fitzgerald, damaged in a collision with a Philippine-flagged merchant vessel, is seen off Shimoda, Japan on June 17, 2017. /VCG Photo

 What happened?

The crash happened at 2:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, when the USS Fitzgerald was operating about 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan.

The destroyer experienced some flooding after the collision. "The USS Fitzgerald suffered damage on her starboard side above and below the waterline," a statement from the US Navy on Saturday said.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported the 8,315-ton USS Fitzgerald had suffered considerable damage to its right side, while the Philippine ship had scrape marks from the collision on the left side of its bow section.

A Philippine-flagged merchant vessel, damaged in a collision with the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald, is seen off Izu Oshima island, Japan on June 17, 2017. /VCG Photo‍

The Japanese Coast Guard and US navy officials believe that the Philippine ship is the ACX Crystal. The 222.6-meter-long, 29,060-ton vessel is three times the size of the US warship. 

The Japanese coast guard has sent five patrol vessels and two aircraft to help, according to NHK. 

The Philippines: no Filipino casualties

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement that there were no Filipino casualties from the collision. A team has been dispatched to meet the Philippine-flagged vessel which is being ported back to Tokyo Bay for interview by Japanese authorities, according to the statement.

In a statement earlier, the department said it is "closely monitoring reports of the collision" and coordinating with authorities, including the US and Japanese governments, to determine the extent of the damage and the number of casualties.

Statement by Philippine Foreign Ministry.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and colleagues of the injured and missing US personnel, including Cmdr. Bryce Benson, the USS Fitzgerald's commanding officer," read the statement.