RUSSIA: INCIDENTE SOTTOMARINO NUCLEARE, OLTRE 20 MORTI

[rossana <rossana at comodinoposta.org>]

La Repubblica 9-11-08

RUSSIA: INCIDENTE SOTTOMARINO NUCLEARE, OLTRE 20 MORTI

Oltre 20 persone sono morti a bordo di un sottomarino a propulsione 
nucleare della Flotta russa del Pacifico in seguito a un incidente, 
probabilmente un incendio, durante un test in mare. Lo ha riferito il 
comandante Igor Dygalo dell'ammiragliato di Mosca citato dall'agenzia 
Itar-Tass. "Il sottomarino non e' danneggiato, il reattore funziona 
normalmente e il livello delle radiazioni e' normale" ha riferito il 
comandante Dygalo specificando che l'incidente, con ogni probabilita' un 
incendio, si e' verificato "durante le prove a mare di un sottomarino a 
propulsione nucleare della Flotta del Pacifico. Il sistema antincendio 
e' andato fuori uso senza far scattare alcun allarme uccidendo oltre 20 
persone, compresi i marinai e i meccanici a bordo". All'unita', di nuova 
costruzione, e' stato ordinato di tornare in porto. Il ministro della 
Difesa Anatoly Serdyukov ha riferito dell'incidente al presidente Dmitry 
Medvedev che ha ordinato un'inchiesta "completa e meticolosa" e di 
fornire "tutto il possibile sostegno alle famiglie delle vittime".

Russia: More than 20 dead in nuclear sub accident

MOSCOW, Russia (AP) -- An accident aboard a nuclear-powered Russian 
navy submarine doing a test run in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday killed 
more than 20 people, the navy said.
A file photo of the Shchuka-B type Russian submarine, classified by NATO 
as Akula.

A file photo of the Shchuka-B type Russian submarine, classified by NATO 
as Akula.

The nuclear reactor aboard the submarine was operating normally and 
radiation levels were normal, navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo said on 
Sunday.

The accident occurred when a fire-extinguishing system went into 
operation in error aboard the submarine, Dygalo said. He said there were 
208 people aboard, including 81 servicemen. The dead included sailors 
and shipbuilders.

It was unclear what activated the fire-extinguishing system or how the 
victims were killed. The state-run RIA-Novosti news agency cited an 
unnamed shipbuilding expert as saying fire systems on Russia's 
nuclear-powered submarines usually use foam and chemicals.

It was Russia's worst naval accident since explosions sank another 
nuclear-powered submarine, the Kursk, in the Barents Sea in 2000, 
killing all 118 seamen aboard. In 2003, 11 people died when a submarine 
that was being taken out of service also sank in the Barents Sea.

RIA-Novosti cited an unnamed official in Russia's Pacific Fleet as 
saying Saturday's accident occurred toward the bow of the submarine and 
that there was no threat to the nuclear reactor, closer to the center.

Dygalo would not name the submarine or say exactly where the accident 
took place. RIA-Novosti cited an unnamed official at the Amur 
Shipbuilding Factory as saying the sub was built there, is called the 
Nerpa and was on a test run in the Sea of Japan when the accident occurred.

According to RIA-Novosti, testing on the submarine began last month and 
it submerged for the first time last week.

The submarine was heading back to shore on its own power. Dygalo said 
Sunday morning that it was still at sea, accompanied by a rescue vessel, 
according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.

Dygalo said the 21 people injured in the accident were brought to the 
Russian port of Vladivostok by the destroyer Admiral Tributs, ITAR-Tass 
reported. They were expected to be taken to a navy hospital, and there 
was no immediate word on their condition.

First Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Kolmakov and navy chief Adm. 
Vladimir Vysotsky were heading for the Pacific Coast in the wake of the 
accident, Dygalo said.

The Kremlin said President Dmitry Medvedev had been informed about the 
accident immediately by his defense minister and was receiving frequent 
updates, Russian news agencies reported. Medvedev ordered a thorough 
investigation.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was criticized for his slow 
response to the Kursk disaster, which marred the first of his eight 
years as president.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/11/08/russia.submarine.ap/index.html