DATE=8/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIAN SUB (L-3ND UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-265549
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A British mini-submarine is joining Russian
rescue operations in the Barents Sea, after Russian
officials asked for help reaching a stranded nuclear
powered submarine with 118 sailors on board. Russian
President Vladimir Putin has called the situation
critical. Correspondent Laurie Kassman has the latest
from Moscow.
TEXT: Four-times rescue ships tried to lower a diving
bell to dock with the Kursk. Four-times the
operations had to be aborted because of rough seas,
strong currents, and poor underwater visibility.
Russia's Itar-Tass agency also says one of the three
diving bells in the rescue mission was damaged as it
was being pulled out of the water.
President Vladimir Putin describes the situation as
critical.
/// PUTIN IN RUSSIAN AND FADE ///
But, Mr. Putin defends the rescue operations and says
everything that can be done is being done to save the
crew and the submarine.
A British mini-submarine has been airlifted to Norway
and will join the rescue operations. But time is
running out. Officials say the oxygen supply on board
the Kursk will run out on Friday.
Russian officials say there has been no sign of life
on board the submarine for several hours, but that did
not mean there were no survivors.
Rescue operations are being threatened by the
deteriorating weather conditions in the Barents Sea.
The submarine also is listing sharply, which makes it
more complicated to clamp the diving bell onto its
cargo hatch so any survivors could be ferried back up
to the surface.
The submarine has been sitting on the bottom of the
Barents Sea, about 100-meters below the surface, since
Sunday.
Russian officials first blamed the sinking on a
collision, Tuesday they said it was caused by an on-
board explosion. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/GE
16-Aug-2000 12:06 PM EDT (16-Aug-2000 1606 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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