Twenty Killed in Russia Sub Accident

In 2000, the world watched helplessly as the Russian nuclear sub Kursk, having suffered an explosion during a torpedo exercise, sank in the Barents Sea. A couple of dozen of the 118 sailors on board, who didn't die in the original blasts, perished hours later as oxygen ran out.

Now comes another tragedy for Russia's navy: A misfiring fire-extinguishing system killed 20 people from Freon inhalation during exercises in the Pacific late last night. More from the Moscow Times:

"...The news came amid reports in the Indian media that the vessel in question had been undergoing tests prior to being leased to the Indian navy.

Three naval personnel and 17 civilian specialists died after inhaling chemical gases released when the firefighting system was erroneously activated as the submarine sailed through the Sea of Japan, off Russia's east coast, Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo said Sunday.

He said the nuclear reactor that powered the submarine was working normally and that the radiation level on board was within allowable limits.

It was unclear Sunday what had triggered the system. Dygalo said a commission of experts and investigators from the General Prosecutor's Office would examine the submarine before reporting on the cause of the accident.

Twenty-one people were hospitalized after inhaling the chemicals, Dygalo said, adding that they were all out of danger."

The Times quoted an anonymous analyst as saying the tragedy would not likely affect India's decision to buy the vessel.

The AP reports that overcrowding may be a factor in the accident. Built for a normal crew of 73, the sub had 208 people on board for the test run (just 81 of those seamen).

(Photo by NTV Russian Channel)