Explosion on Azores-Bound Freight Carrier Kills Two

BOSTON - An explosion on board an international bulk freighter headed for the Azores has killed two crew members.

The explosion was reported at 7 .a.m. Monday on the carrier Tamar, about 1,300 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. The explosion initially killed one crewmember and severely burned three others. The captain of the Tamar reported another crewmember passed away from injuries from the explosion later that night.

The New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing pararescuers arrived on board the tamar around 9:30 p.m. Monday after deploying from an HC-130 with two small boats and advanced life saving equipment. They are remaining with the ship until higher medical authority can take over care of the injured crew.

The Portuguese Coast Guard are scheduled to launch a helicopter today to pick up the injured crew members and take them to Ponta Delgada for treatment.