LOS ANGELES, July 31 (Xinhua) -- One Marine was killed and two others were injured after an amphibious assault vehicle had an accident off the California coast, leaving eight others missing, the U.S. military said on Friday.
The "mishap" happened about 5:45 p.m. local time on Thursday when the amphibious assault vehicle carrying 15 Marines and one Navy sailor began to take on water during a training exercise near San Clemente Island, according to the U.S. Marine Corps.
All are assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Search and rescue efforts are still underway with support from the Navy and Coast Guard, said the I Marine Expeditionary Force in a tweet.
"We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident. I ask that you keep our Marines, Sailors, and their families in your prayers as we continue our search," Christopher Bronzi, 15th MEU Commanding Officer, tweeted.
The I Marine Expeditionary Force said on its official website that the force is "a globally responsive, expeditionary, and fully scalable Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), capable of generating, deploying, and employing ready forces and formations for crisis response, forward presence, major combat operations, and campaigns." Enditem
