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Russian nuclear submarine fire contained but not out Russian nuclear submarine fire contained but not out
(40 minutes later)
A huge fire that engulfed a Russian nuclear submarine undergoing repairs in the northern Murmansk region is contained but not out, officials say.A huge fire that engulfed a Russian nuclear submarine undergoing repairs in the northern Murmansk region is contained but not out, officials say.
Firefighters battled the blaze for nine hours after it broke out on Thursday on a wooden deck near the Yekaterinburg.Firefighters battled the blaze for nine hours after it broke out on Thursday on a wooden deck near the Yekaterinburg.
Officials said there was no radiation leak because the reactors had been shut down before repairs began. But nine people were injured fighting the fire.Officials said there was no radiation leak because the reactors had been shut down before repairs began. But nine people were injured fighting the fire.
Another report said some crew members were currently on board the submarine.Another report said some crew members were currently on board the submarine.
They were monitoring the temperature and carbon dioxide levels, the RIA Novosti news agency quoted the defence ministry as saying.They were monitoring the temperature and carbon dioxide levels, the RIA Novosti news agency quoted the defence ministry as saying.
'No radiation threat''No radiation threat'
Television pictures of the Roslyakovo dock which were broadcast on Thursday showed thick smoke billowing from the top of the 11,7400-tonne Yekaterinburg as personnel from 11 fire brigades, along with several helicopters and a navy fire boat, battled the flames.Television pictures of the Roslyakovo dock which were broadcast on Thursday showed thick smoke billowing from the top of the 11,7400-tonne Yekaterinburg as personnel from 11 fire brigades, along with several helicopters and a navy fire boat, battled the flames.
The fire was contained at 01:40 on Friday (21:40 GMT) and was expected to be put out "in the coming hours", the emergency situations ministry said.The fire was contained at 01:40 on Friday (21:40 GMT) and was expected to be put out "in the coming hours", the emergency situations ministry said.
But on Friday morning, the submarine was still smouldering, and firefighters were still working at the scene, pouring water over the outer hull as well as the space between the inner and outer hulls, reports said.But on Friday morning, the submarine was still smouldering, and firefighters were still working at the scene, pouring water over the outer hull as well as the space between the inner and outer hulls, reports said.
"There are no open flames," a defence ministry statement said. However, emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted by Reuters as saying that the fire had merely been "localised"."There are no open flames," a defence ministry statement said. However, emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted by Reuters as saying that the fire had merely been "localised".
After several hours trying to extinguish the blaze, officials reportedly decided to submerge the submarine partially. The fire is believed to have started when wooden decking caught fire during repairs to the vessel, which had been hoisted into a dry dock.After several hours trying to extinguish the blaze, officials reportedly decided to submerge the submarine partially. The fire is believed to have started when wooden decking caught fire during repairs to the vessel, which had been hoisted into a dry dock.
A law enforcement source told Russian news agencies that seven servicemen at the shipyard and two emergency ministry personnel had been injured while fighting the fire. One report said they were suffering from smoke inhalation.A law enforcement source told Russian news agencies that seven servicemen at the shipyard and two emergency ministry personnel had been injured while fighting the fire. One report said they were suffering from smoke inhalation.
Despite the Yekaterinburg being one of Russia's most powerful nuclear submarines, radiation levels around it were normal, the Murmansk branch of the emergency situation ministry said.Despite the Yekaterinburg being one of Russia's most powerful nuclear submarines, radiation levels around it were normal, the Murmansk branch of the emergency situation ministry said.
"These parameters are within the limits of natural radiation fluctuation levels. There is no threat to the population," a statement added."These parameters are within the limits of natural radiation fluctuation levels. There is no threat to the population," a statement added.
The vessel's two nuclear reactors had been switched off before repairs were carried out at the shipyard, officials said. Its 16 inter-continental ballistic missiles, each with four warheads, had also been removed.The vessel's two nuclear reactors had been switched off before repairs were carried out at the shipyard, officials said. Its 16 inter-continental ballistic missiles, each with four warheads, had also been removed.
The head of Russia's armed forces and the commander of its navy both travelled to Roslyakovo after the fire broke out.
The Yekaterinburg is a Delta-IV-class nuclear submarine. It was commissioned by the Soviet Union in 1985 and can carry 16 intercontinental ballistic missiles.The Yekaterinburg is a Delta-IV-class nuclear submarine. It was commissioned by the Soviet Union in 1985 and can carry 16 intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Safety on Russian navy submarines is a sensitive issue for the military following the Kursk disaster in August 2000.Safety on Russian navy submarines is a sensitive issue for the military following the Kursk disaster in August 2000.
The Kursk nuclear submarine sank in the Barents Sea off north-west Russia, killing all 118 seamen on board. Investigators concluded that an explosion of fuel from one of its torpedoes caused the sinking.The Kursk nuclear submarine sank in the Barents Sea off north-west Russia, killing all 118 seamen on board. Investigators concluded that an explosion of fuel from one of its torpedoes caused the sinking.