It is assumed that the cause of the incident was the mistake of a young engineer who mistakenly placed a test tube with chemicals in the wrong place. The post notes that there could have been more tragic consequences had the perpetrator not immediately notified command of his mistake.
The frigate was forced to moor in Portsmouth. The injured sailors have been hospitalized. Their number and condition is not specified. It is noted that the scientists arrived on the ship.
“The person who made this mistake acted honestly and in good faith in informing superior officers of what had happened. If he hadn’t done it, things could have been a lot worse,” a Navy source told the publication.