Soldiers injured as US ship rocked by large explosion at Naval base
A US warship has been rocked by an explosion injuring sailors onboard.
Eighteen sailors have been transferred to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a blaze was reported on USS Bonhomme Richard on Sunday, about 9am local time, as it was docked at Naval Base San Diego in California, Naval Surface Forces wrote on Twitter.
"The entire crew is off the ship and all are accounted,” Naval Forces said.
Krishna Jackson, the base’s public information officer, said it’s not known what part of the ship the explosion originated from.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The flames sent up a huge plume of dark smoke visible around San Diego.
San Diego is the Bonhomme Richard’s home port and it was undergoing routine maintenance at the time of the fire.
Ms Jackson estimated about 200 sailors and officers were on board — far fewer than if the ship was on active duty.
The ship has the capacity to deploy and land helicopters, smaller boats and amphibious vehicles.
with The Associated Press and Reuters
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