A U.S. Marine was killed and another Marine and a U.S. sailor were injured Tuesday in an explosion at a demolition range within a training area of the U.S. military in Okinawa Prefecture, Kyodo News reported.

The three belonged to an explosives handling unit and no civilians were hurt or civilian facilities damaged in the explosion that happened during preparations for dud bomb disposal at around 11:15 a.m., according to the U.S. Marine Corps said.

The U.S. Marine Corps said it is investigating the cause of the accident at the training area near the Marine Corps' Camp Schwab.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2009)