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(Image source: The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection)
BY KATIE BRENNAN Seven Marines were killed and seven others
injured in an accidental explosion during a training exercise at the Hawthorne Army
Depot in Nevada. “This was a nighttime incident. It involved
a group of Marines based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. They were out there at this
large training facility in the middle of the desert and in northern Nevada.” (Via ABC
News) The facility is associated with both the Marines
and the Army. HLN reports it’s made up of hundreds of buildings spread over 250 miles.
“There are huge stores of ammunition there, at Hawthorne, but early reports said that
the ammo, stored at the depot, was not involved.” Reports say a mortar shell was involved in
the deadly blast, but MSNBC explains there are several reports about exactly how the
blast happened. “One, that as the Marines loaded the mortar,
a 16-millimeter mortar shell, into the firing tube, it exploded then. Another report says
that the round may have exploded as the marines were picking it up.”
CNN reports how the fatal explosion happened will certainly be a matter of investigation.
“ … things they will be looking into: potential mishandling, technical malfunction,
we just don't know yet. These are very initial reports this very tragic accident happened
just at 10 o’clock last night on the west coast.”
Officials say the Marines were with the 2nd Marine Division. Stay with Newsy for more
as the details of this tragic story develop.