The thick cloud of smoke seeming to emerge from the bay of San Diego is impressive. A major fire started Sunday aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, a military ship stationed in this city in southern California, report the American media.
The origin of the fire is not yet known. Firefighters said they were called at around 8:30 a.m. local time (5:30 p.m. Paris time) to respond to a fire on board the USS Bonhomme Richard.
11 sailors were being treated for injuries after a fire and explosion aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard at the US Naval base in San Diego, a Navy spokesman said https://t.co/umoPspLNCb pic.twitter.com/8dQHWuDTsx
- The New York Times (@nytimes) July 12, 2020About 160 sailors on board
"Several sailors have been taken care of for different injuries," the firefighters tweeted, without giving further details. According to a US military message on Twitter, 18 sailors have been treated for "minor injuries" and their life prognosis is not at risk. According to testimony quoted by American media, an explosion was heard before the fire started.
An explosion erupted as a roaring blaze was reported on Bonhomme Richard LHD-6 wasp-class amphibious assault ship at Naval Base San Diego. # BaghdadPost #USSBonhommeRichard #SanDiego # LHD6 pic.twitter.com/8D7hahsHhg
- The Baghdad Post (@BaghdadPostPlus) July 12, 2020San Diego is Bonhomme Richard's home port and was in maintenance when the fire started. About 160 sailors and officers were then on board this approximately 250-meter vessel, used in particular for the deployment of helicopters and amphibious vehicles.