Breaking- An accident aboard a nuclear-powered submarine has killed more than 20 people, according to Russian news agencies.
Reuters World News Highlights 0200 GMT, Nov 9
MOSCOW – More than 20 people were killed and another 21 injured in an accident aboard a Russian nuclear submarine in the Pacific Ocean, the navy said on Sunday, in the worst submarine disaster since the Kursk sank eight years ago.
Source: forexpros.com via politisite
Deaths in Russia submarine accident
At least 20 people have died and another 21 were injured in an accident on board a Russian nuclear-powered submarine, Russan news agencies said.
The incident on Saturday involved the failure of a fire extinguishing system.
A naval spokesman confirmed the reports, adding that 208 people were on board.
A firefighting system went off during testing of a nuclear submarine in Russia’s Pacific Fleet, a senior navy official was quoted as saying by the Russian Itar-Tass news agency.
“During sea trials of a nuclear-powered submarine of the Pacific Fleet the firefighting system went off unsanctioned, killing over 20 people, including servicemen and workers,” Igor Dygalo, the Russian Pacific Fleet spokesman, said.
“The submarine is not damaged, its reactor works as normal, and radiation levels on the submarine are normal,” Dygalo said.
Investigation underway
The submarine, whose name and whereabouts have not been disclosed, has been ordered to suspend sea trials and return to port in the far eastern Primorye territory, he said.
Anatoly Serdyukov, Russia’s defence minister, reported the incident to Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, who had ordered a “full and meticulous” investigation and “all possible aid and support to the victims’ families,” according to the report.
Military prosecutors are investigating the incident.
Source: english.aljazeera.net via politisite
Fire on Russian nuclear submarine kills at least 20
At least 20 sailors and shipyard workers have died following a fire on a Russian nuclear-powered submarine which was undergoing sea trials. A further 21 were injured when a fire extinguishing system in the bow of the vessel failed, and they have been ferried ashore by support vessels.
The submarine has been ordered to suspend trials and return immediately to port in Russia’s far-eastern Primorye territory.
The name and class of the vessel, and its location when fire broke out, have not been released. But it was assisted by the Russian destroyer Admiral Tributs,which is normally based at Vladivostok, Russia’s main Far Eastern naval port on the Sea of Japan.
The fire broke out in the nose of the vessel and its nuclear reactor, situated in the stern, was not affected by the fire, said Russian Pacific Fleet spokesman Captain Igor Dygalo. There were no radiation leaks, he added.
“I declare with full responsibility that the reactor compartment on the nuclear-powered submarine is working normally and the radiation background is normal,” he said.Of the 208 people on board when the fire broke out, 81 were servicemen.
The Admiral Tributs took some of the injured back to port.
Source: independent.co.uk via politisite
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