A US sailor has died after sustaining injuries in a nuclear submarine accident in the western Pacific, the US Pacific Fleet said Sunday.  

The sailor was seriously injured when the Lost Angeles-class submarine USS San Francisco ran aground during underwater operations at approximately 4 PM Friday Hawaii Standard Time (0200 GMT Saturday), about 560 km (350 miles) south of Guam.

US Navy medical personnel were aboard the submarine and were treating 23 other crew members for injuries such as broken bones, lacerations, bruises and a back injury, according to a statement issued by the US Pacific Fleet.

The submarine, escorted by the Coast Guard cutter Galveston Island and USNS Stockham, remained on the surface and was continuing toward its homeport in Guam, the statement said.

Navy officials said the submarine, with a 137-member crew, was en route to Brisbane, Australia, for a port visit when the accident occurred, but there was no damage to the nuclear reactor that was operating normally.  

(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2005)