One of Russia's Shchuka (Pike) class (NATO reporting name: Akula) nuclear submarines, believed to be The Nerpa (Seal), on board which at least 20 people were killed in an accident, seen during Russia's Pacific Fleet parade marking Navy Day in the port of Vladivostok, about 6,400 km (4,000 miles) east of Moscow, in this July 25, 2008, photo. An accident aboard The Nerpa making a test run in the Sea of Japan killed at least 20 people, when a fire-extinguishing system went into operation in error aboard the submarine, officials said Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008.(AP Photo, File)
Twenty Die In Russian Nuclear Sub Accident
-- Yahoo News/Reuters
-- Yahoo News/Reuters
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (Reuters) – Twenty people were killed on board a Russian nuclear submarine, the navy said on Sunday, in an accident that exposed the gap between the Kremlin's ambitions and its military capability.
The accident, which happened while the submarine was on sea trials in the Pacific Ocean, was the deadliest to hit Russia's navy since the Kursk nuclear submarine exploded beneath the Barents Sea in 2000, killing all 118 sailors on board.
Prosecutors investigating the latest incident said they suspected the victims died after inhaling a toxic gas used as a fire suppressant when the vessel's fire extinguishing systems went off unexpectedly.
It was not clear why the portable breathing gear usually issued to Russian submarine crews did not save them.
"Twenty people died," the Prosecutor-General's Office said in a statement. "Results of a preliminary investigation show that death occurred as a result of freon gas entering the lungs."
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More News On Russia's Nuclear Sub Accident
Russia: 20 suffocate in nuclear sub accident -- Yahoo News/AP
More than 20 dead in Russian nuclear sub accident -- Yahoo News/AFP
Nuclear-powered Submarine Accident Kills at least 20 -- Voice Of America
Twenty die in Russian nuclear sub accident -- Swiss Info
Russian nuclear submarine accident leaves 20 dead, 22 injured -- RIA Novosti
Freon Gas Kills At Least 20 Dead Aboard Russian Nuclear Submarine -- Gant Daily
Twenty die on Russian submarine -- BBC
Fire on Russian nuclear sub leaves 20 dead -- Times Online
Deadly Russian Sub Accident Recalls Kursk Disaster -- Deutsche Welle