Coast Guard: 2 Dead After Cargo Ship Explosion; Baltimore Last Port

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The U.S. Coast Guard says two people have died and others were injured after an explosion occurred on an international cargo carrier 1,300 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. The Coast Guard says the ship's last port of call was Baltimore.

The U.S. Coast Guard says it is coordinating with the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing, as well as Canadian and Portuguese coast guards to provide medical emergency response for crewmembers.

The U.S. Coast Guard says around 7 a.m. Monday, it received contact from a Marshall Islands-flagged 623-foot bulk carrier Tamar, who reported that there had been an explosion in the forward storeroom.

The captain of the ship reported that the explosion had killed one crew member, while three others had massive burns and were in need of medical attention.

The Coast Guard says it reached out to their partner agencies to coordinate an emergency response. The New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing launched an HC-130 aircrew with six para-rescuers and one combat rescue officer. The air crew is estimated to reach the Tamar at approximately 6:30 p.m. The

The aircrew was estimated to have reached the Tamar at around 6:30 p.m. The pararescuers will provide medical treatment for the crewmembers.

The Coast Guard says the Canadian Coast Guard has diverted two warships with physician assistants aboard estimated to arrive after midnight.

The fire resulting from the explosion is extinguished and the cause is unknown.

After receiving medical treatment, the crew will be continuing on their transit to the Azores, Portugal.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook