The USS New Orleans warship caught fire Wednesday off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, leaving two sailors with minor injuries, officials said.
A fire erupted on a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock and burned for roughly 12 hours while in the water at White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa. The blaze was officially put out early Thursday morning, as stated by the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet.
The fire on the 684-foot-long vessel is under investigation.
Two sailors were treated for minor injuries, but no details about the injuries were immediately provided.
The Navy said its crew will stay aboard the ship. The USS New Orleans, which was commissioned in 2007, can hold up to 800 people.
Crews from the USS San Diego and the Japanese coast guard and military helped fight the blaze. (JNN-TBS via AP)
This event comes five years after a fire ignited on the USS Bonhomme Richard, which burned for five days in San Diego in July 2020. Although a sailor was charged with starting it, they were later acquitted.
In that case, a Navy report found there were significant failures from the commanders, crew members, and others involved. The ship sustained severe structural, electrical, and mechanical damage and was ultimately dismantled.
