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| Twenty die on Russian submarine | Twenty die on Russian submarine |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| At least 20 people have died in an incident on a Russian nuclear submarine when a fire extinguishing system was switched on accidentally. | At least 20 people have died in an incident on a Russian nuclear submarine when a fire extinguishing system was switched on accidentally. |
| Russian Pacific Fleet spokesman Igor Dygalo said both sailors and shipyard workers died in the incident, which occurred during sea trials. | Russian Pacific Fleet spokesman Igor Dygalo said both sailors and shipyard workers died in the incident, which occurred during sea trials. |
| He said the submarine was not damaged and there had been no radiation leaks. | He said the submarine was not damaged and there had been no radiation leaks. |
| It is the worst incident for the navy since the sinking of the Kursk submarine in 2000, which left 118 dead. | It is the worst incident for the navy since the sinking of the Kursk submarine in 2000, which left 118 dead. |
| Injured evacuated | Injured evacuated |
| Military prosecutors are investigating the incident, but the name and class of the submarine involved have not been officially revealed.Russian TV speculated how the accident might have happened | |
| There were 208 people on board at the time, 81 of whom were servicemen. | There were 208 people on board at the time, 81 of whom were servicemen. |
| Capt Dygalo said the fire extinguishing system "went off unsanctioned". | Capt Dygalo said the fire extinguishing system "went off unsanctioned". |
| The BBC's Richard Galpin, in Moscow, says it is not clear why this would result in so many casualties. | The BBC's Richard Galpin, in Moscow, says it is not clear why this would result in so many casualties. |
| Russian news agencies say the systems on submarines use chemical liquids and the injured are reported to be suffering from various degrees of poisoning. | Russian news agencies say the systems on submarines use chemical liquids and the injured are reported to be suffering from various degrees of poisoning. |
| The vessel, which had been undergoing sea trials in the Sea of Japan, has been ordered to return to port in the far eastern Primorskiy territory, Capt Dygalo said. | The vessel, which had been undergoing sea trials in the Sea of Japan, has been ordered to return to port in the far eastern Primorskiy territory, Capt Dygalo said. |
| "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, quoted by Itar-Tass news agency. | "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, quoted by Itar-Tass news agency. |
| Twenty-one injured people were transferred from the submarine to the destroyer Admiral Tributs and taken to hospital near Vladivostock. | Twenty-one injured people were transferred from the submarine to the destroyer Admiral Tributs and taken to hospital near Vladivostock. |
| Reports say the incident occurred in the nose of the submarine. The nuclear reactor, which is in the stern, was not affected. | Reports say the incident occurred in the nose of the submarine. The nuclear reactor, which is in the stern, was not affected. |
| Indian link | Indian link |
| A shipyard source told the RIA Novosti news agency the vessel was the K-152 Nerpa, an Akula-class submarine, but this cannot be independently confirmed. | A shipyard source told the RIA Novosti news agency the vessel was the K-152 Nerpa, an Akula-class submarine, but this cannot be independently confirmed. |
| RIA said the trials were in the Japanese Sea and that the Nerpa was due to be leased to the Indian navy. | RIA said the trials were in the Japanese Sea and that the Nerpa was due to be leased to the Indian navy. |
| The agency quoted a Pacific Fleet source as saying the submarine would arrive back at its port at around 0900 GMT on Sunday, depending on weather conditions. | The agency quoted a Pacific Fleet source as saying the submarine would arrive back at its port at around 0900 GMT on Sunday, depending on weather conditions. |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is being kept fully informed about the incident, his press service said. | Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is being kept fully informed about the incident, his press service said. |
| Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Kolmakov and Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Vysotsky are flying to the scene of the incident. | Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Kolmakov and Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Vysotsky are flying to the scene of the incident. |
| Russia's worst submarine disaster happened in August 2000, when the nuclear-powered Kursk sank in the Barents Sea. All 118 people on board died. | Russia's worst submarine disaster happened in August 2000, when the nuclear-powered Kursk sank in the Barents Sea. All 118 people on board died. |
| The then president, Vladimir Putin, was criticised for being slow to react to the incident and reluctant to call in foreign assistance. | The then president, Vladimir Putin, was criticised for being slow to react to the incident and reluctant to call in foreign assistance. |