U.S. nuclear sub runs aground in Pacific, 20 sailors injured
11:21 PM EST Jan 08
HONOLULU (AP) - A nuclear submarine ran aground Saturday 563 kilometres south of Guam, injuring about 20 sailors and sustaining severe damage, the U.S. navy said.
There were no reports of damage to the USS San Francisco's reactor plant, which was operating normally, the navy said. One of the sailors suffered critical injuries.
The 110-metre submarine was headed back to its home port in Guam and the incident is under investigation, said Jon Yoshishige, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
He said there was no information yet on what the submarine struck.
The extent of the damage would not be known until the submarine arrived at Guam on Monday, Yoshishige said.
Details on the sailors' injuries were not immediately available but Yoshishige said an initial assessment put the number injured at around 20. The sub has a crew of 137, officials said.
U.S. navy and coast guard aircraft from Guam were sent to monitor the submarine and assist if needed, the navy said.
Located west of the international date line, Guam is a U.S. territory about 6,000 kilometres southwest of Hawaii.
© The Canadian Press, 2005
cbc.ca |
