More than 20 killed in Russian nuclear submarine accident

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Source: Xinhua | 11-09-2008 09:44

MOSCOW, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- More than 20 people have been killed in an accident on a Russian nuclear submarine, local media reported on early Sunday.

Russian seamen line up on an unidentified submarine believed  to be an Akula-class submarine during a military parade  training in Vladivostok in this July 25, 2008 file photo. 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. The RIA agency quoted a  source in the Amur Shipbuilding Enterprise as saying the accident  occurred aboard the Nerpa, a Project 971 Shchuka-B attack  submarine, known inside NATO as an Akula-class submarine.[Agencies]

"Over 20 people have been killed on Nov. 8, as a result of accidental activation of the fire extinguishing system at a nuclear-powered submarine of the Pacific Fleet during sea trials," Itar-Tass cited a navy spokesman.

The radiation on the submarine is normal as its nuclear reactor is working at normal status, said Igor Dygalo, an aide to the commander-in-chief of the Russian Pacific Fleet.

Among the killed are workers of a shipyard and military servicemen, he said.

The submarine is sailing to a temporary base in Russia's far east Primorye territory with the escorting of an anti-submarine warship and a rescue vessel to evacuate another 21 injured people, Dygalo said.