19 December 2005
FERROL — Two sailors were killed in an explosion aboard a frigate in the western port of Ferrol.
Corporal Francisco Jesús Pérez Castrillón and rating E. Noval Gómez died in the early hours of the morning after the blast on the frigate Extremadura, which was moored in the military arsenal at Ferrol.
A build-up of hot water vapour in the engine room at the stern of the ship caused the explosion, sources from the Spanish Armada said.
The blast happened at about 2.20am.
A number of other sailors suffered minor burns.
The crew were evacuated from the ship.
The ‘Extremadura’ came into service in 1976 and was due to be mothballed next year.
The accident coincided with a visit of the defence minister José Bono to the port in the next few days.
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news