DATE=8/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIAN SUB (L)
NUMBER=2-265609
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian rescue operations continue for a fifth
day to try to save 118 sailors trapped aboard the
Kursk nuclear submarine. Officials there now say it
was a collision that sank the ship in the northern
Barents Sea. Correspondent Laurie Kassman has more
from Moscow.
TEXT: Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov
says films taken of the Kursk indicate extensive
damage to the ship's bow that, he says was caused by a
collision with an unknown object.
On Tuesday, officials had blamed the accident on an
explosion on board the submarine. Independent
military experts had also suggested one or possibly
two explosions on board the Kursk had blown a hole in
its front section.
The conflicting reports and silence of President
Vladimir Putin has sparked outrage in the public and
the press. Newspaper editorials ask why the president
has remained on holiday at a southern seaside resort
while tragedy has engulfed the nation.
Russian efforts to save the crew and ship so far have
failed because of strong underwater currents and poor
visibility. On Wednesday, Russia finally said yes to
foreign offers of help. Britain has dispatched a
sophisticated mini-submarine and Norway is sending
deep-sea divers but they are not expected to reach the
accident site until Saturday.
Nobody knows for sure if there are any survivors on
the Kursk. There have been no more signals from the
ship since Wednesday. Officials say film of the damage
indicates a gaping hole in the ship's front starboard
section where most of the crew would have been working
at the time of the accident.
Russian officials at first said the oxygen supply
aboard the Kursk would run out by now (Friday). Then
they estimated it could last another five days.
Experts say that sadly suggests there are fewer
survivors on board to share it. (Signed)
NEB/LMK/PLM
18-Aug-2000 04:19 AM EDT (18-Aug-2000 0819 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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