Nuclear Submarine Blaze Injures Six People

Six people have been injured after a fire broke out on a nuclear-powered submarine at a US Navy shipyard.

Emergency services were called to the blaze on board the USS Miami which is docked in Maine on the east coast of the US.

Authorities have not said how the fire started but the submarine's nuclear reactor was not operating at the time and is reportedly not affected.

The attack sub was in dry dock for regularly scheduled maintenance when the fire started, US Navy spokesperson Lieutenant Myers Vasquez said.

The USS Miami is a fast-attack submarine of the Los Angeles class, capable of carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles and Mark 48 torpedoes.

No weapons were on board at the time of the blaze, Lt Vasquez said.

The fire broke out in the forward part of the vessel, which houses living quarters and command and control spaces.

State, local, and federal authorities were notified of the incident.

One of the injured was treated and released at the scene. Three others were taken to a medical facility and later released.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine was established on June 12, 1800, and is the oldest continuously operating shipyard operated by the Navy.