US nuclear submarine collides with unidentified object in South China Sea

A US nuclear submarine has collided with an unidentified object in international waters, the US Navy says. The incident occurred about a week ago and the Navy says the submarine is “safe and stable.”

The US Navy announced in a statement that the nuclear-powered submarine USS Connecticut collided with an unidentified object in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region near the South China Sea.

"Der Spiegel Online" reported on Friday, October 8, citing the statement that the incident occurred six days ago, but the news of it was kept secret until now so as not to jeopardize the submarine's mission.

According to the report, the American submarine was damaged in the incident, but its overall condition is safe and stable, and there was no problem with its nuclear-powered engine.

According to an October 7 statement from the US Navy, the submarine USS Connecticut is being transferred to a US base off the coast of the Pacific island of Guam, and an investigation has begun into the cause of the accident and the extent of possible damage.

More than 10 injured on US submarine

There has been no official report on the condition of the submarine's crew, but the USNA news website reported that more than 10 crew members were slightly or moderately injured.

The website announced that a US nuclear submarine had encountered an accident while sailing in the South China Sea. There are various speculations about the cause of the accident, including a collision with a sunken ship.

Tensions between Beijing and Western countries have recently increased in the South China Sea region. The United States has expressed displeasure over the frequent flights of Chinese fighter jets over the sea and violations of Taiwan's airspace, and Beijing has called joint naval exercises between the United States and its allies in the region provocative.

Source: DW