Marines Killed in Pendleton Explosion

Two Marines were killed and three others were injured Thursday in an armory explosion at Camp Pendleton, a base spokesman said.

The explosion occurred about 4:30 p.m. as Marines were returning their weapons to the armory after training exercises, Capt. Jerry Broeckert said. He said the Marines who were killed were inside the armory when it blew up.

Two others were standing outside the building and suffered minor injuries, he said.

The names of the dead and injured were being withheld until their families were notified. Broeckert said the most seriously injured was being treated at the naval hospital at Camp Pendleton, about 50 miles north of San Diego.

The arms stored in the building were anti-armor type weapons capable of destroying masonry structures or armored vehicles, such as tanks, according to Broeckert. He said an investigation is under way to determine what caused the explosion.