VIRGINIA – A fire broke out aboard the USS Leyte Gulf, a guided missile cruiser named after the site of the largest naval battle in World War II off the Philippines and five civilian workers were injured, officials said.
The 567-foot warship armed with Tomahawk missiles, torpedoes and Harpoon missiles was undergoing repairs in Norfolk, Virginia recently when the fire broke out below its main deck.
The
cause of the blaze, which was put out about 15 minutes after it
began, was not immediately known but officials ruled out sabotage.
Leyte
Gulf carries a complement of about 380 officers and men.
The
injured workers were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The
extent of their injuries was not immediately known.
The
fire occurred two decks below the main deck on the ship, a
Ticonderoga-class cruiser, said Norfolk Fire and Rescue Battalion
Chief Bruce Evans.
Workers
were welding on the ship, but it was unclear if that was related to
the fire, Evans said.
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