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    December 30, 2011

Massive Fire on Russian Nuclear Submarine Extinguished

   Jessica Golloher | Moscow
   In this video image from Ru-RTR Russian state television channel,
   firefighters spray water on the Yekaterinburg nuclear submarine in a
   dock at the Roslyakovo shipyard in the Murmansk region, Russia. A fire
   that erupted while the Yekaterinburg was in dry-d
   Photo: AP
   In this video image from Ru-RTR Russian state television channel,
   firefighters spray water on the Yekaterinburg nuclear submarine in a
   dock at the Roslyakovo shipyard in the Murmansk region, Russia. A fire
   that erupted while the Yekaterinburg was in dry-dock for repairs at the
   town of Roslyakovo near Murmansk has left seven crew-members injured
   after they inhaled poisonous fumes from the blaze, December 30, 2011.

   A massive fire that engulfed Russia's largest nuclear subarmine while
   it was undergoing repairs in the northern Murmansk region has been put
   out.
   The blaze that firefighters continued to battle for hours after it
   broke out on Thursday on a wooden deck near the more than 11,000- ton
   Yekaterinburg, has finally ended.
   Some 11 fire crews were dispatched to the scene along with helicopters.
   State television footage showed massive plumes of smoke coming from the
   vessel.
   Vladimir Markin is a spokesperson for Russia's Investigative Committee.
   Markin says the result of the fire was not serious. There were no
   fatalities. Several firefighters did suffer fromsmoke inhalation.
   Officials said there was no radiation leak because the reactors had
   been shut down before repairs began but they will continue to monitor
   radiation levels.
   The Kremlin says President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered an investigation
   into the blaze.
   The nuclear submarine can carry 16 ballistic missiles, each with four
   warheads. Reactors for Russian submarines are built to withstand
   enormous shocks and high temperatures.
   Russia's worst post-Soviet submarine disaster occurred in August 2000
   when the Kursk nuclear submarine sank in the Barents Sea, killing all
   118 crewmen aboard.

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