Sailor dies after US sub grounded

The San Francisco's nuclear reactor has not been damaged

A sailor has died after a US nuclear submarine ran aground south of the Pacific island of Guam, injuring several sailors on board.

The accident occurred on Saturday, near the submarine's home port of Guam, one of the most important US Pacific bases.

The US Navy said the nuclear reactor on the USS San Francisco was not damaged during the accident.

But 23 other crew members are being treated aboard for injuries including broken bones, bruises and lacerations.

A spokesman for the Pacific Fleet said the name of the sailor was being withheld for 24 hours after next of kin had been informed.

Severe damage

The submarine is due to arrive back at its base at Guam, nearly 600km (350 miles) north of where the incident occurred, on Monday.

The vessel was on its way to a port in Brisbane, Australia, when it ran aground at 0200 GMT on Saturday.

The US Navy said it did not know what the vessel had struck and was investigating severe damage to the outside of the submarine.

Military and Coast Guard aircraft have also been sent out to monitor the submarine.

Guam, a territory of the US, is one of the American military's most important bases in the Pacific.

The Los Angeles-class submarines are 109.73m (360 ft) long and are classed as attack vessels, designed to counter enemy submarines or surface vessels. They are equipped with a single nuclear reactor.

The vessels carry a crew of 137.