DATE=8/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIAN SUB (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-265647
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: British and Norwegian rescue teams are racing
toward the accident site in the Barents Sea where a
Russian nuclear submarine plunged to the bottom a week
ago. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from Moscow
that Russian rescue efforts so far have failed to gain
access to the 118 sailors aboard the Kursk.
TEXT: Russian officials are not even waiting for the
British and Norwegian teams to arrive at the accident
site. They have been ferried out by helicopter to the
two ships as they approach the area. The officials
want to discuss coordination of the rescue efforts.
All week, Russian teams have been desperately trying
to gain access to the sunken submarine to evacuate any
survivors. But a film of the ship indicates extensive
damage that would have claimed many victims.
Hope is diminishing of finding anyone alive. There
has been no sound of life from the submarine Kursk
since earlier in the week. Now a roll call of the
crew has appeared on Russian television, almost like a
memorial.
Russian Officials had said oxygen supplies on board
the Kursk would run out by Friday, but then suggested
they might hold for a few extra days.
A navy spokesman now describes the situation as
"beyond critical."
Relatives of the crew now have gathered near the
nuclear fleet's home port. Public anger has been
simmering all week over the government's handling of
the crisis.
Newspaper editorials continue to lash out at President
Vladimir Putin -- once seen by most Russians as a man
of action.
Now Russians complain about his relative silence at
his seaside holiday resort and his delay in accepting
foreign help. Mr. Putin finally returned to the
Kremlin early Saturday morning, a week after disaster
struck the Kursk.
Russian officials insist the accident was caused by a
collision but there is no evidence of what the ship
may have hit. Military experts and the commander of
the Northern Fleet suspect an explosion in the ship's
torpedo compartment. Seismologists in Norway also say
they detected two explosions last Saturday in the
Barents Sea just where the Kursk was participating in
military training exercises. (Signed)
NEB/LK/DW/JP
19-Aug-2000 09:04 AM LOC (19-Aug-2000 1304 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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