21 injured in US navy ship fire in San Diego

Firefighters are continuing efforts to extinguish a fire on a US warship anchored at a naval base in California. Twenty-one people have been reported injured.

 

The fire broke out on the USS Bonhomme Richard around 8:30 on Sunday morning. Smoke continues to rise from the vessel nearly 11 hours later.

 

The US Navy said in a statement, "17 sailors and four civilians are being treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital." It also said the remainder of the crew is accounted for.

 

The USS Bonhomme Richard is an amphibious assault ship that can deploy helicopters and other aircraft. The ship was stationed at a US naval base in Sasebo, western Japan, from 2012 to 2018. It is now docked at Naval Base San Diego.

 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The local fire department chief said in an interview with CNN that the ship could burn for days, down to the waterline.

 

NHK