A blaze was reported shortly before 9am local time on USS Bonhomme Richard, said Mike Raney, a spokesman for Naval Surface Force, US Pacific Fleet.

Eighteen people have been injured after an explosion and fire on a ship at Naval Base San Diego.

The ship was undergoing routine maintenance at the time of the fire but it was not immediately known where on the 840ft amphibious assault vessel the blast and the fire occurred..

About 160 sailors and officers were on board, Mr Raney said, which is far fewer than the thousand typically on the ship when it is on active duty.

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