DATE=8/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA SUB 3RD UPDATE (L)
NUMBER=2-265671
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Norwegian divers are trying to open the hatch
of the stranded Russian nuclear submarine while rescue
teams on the surface of the Barents Sea consider the
next move. The Kursk plunged to the bottom of the sea
more than a week ago with 118 sailors trapped on
board. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from
Moscow there are contradictory reports on the progress
of the rescue operation.
TEXT: Russian officials say the escape hatch of the
Kursk is too badly damaged for a mini-submarine to
dock with it. But Norwegian officials contradict that
report.
A spokesman for the Norwegian military says the hatch
is not so damaged and probably could be opened fairly
easily. He also denied Russian reports that a man had
been found inside the air lock below the hatch.
The Norwegian divers are said to have detected air
inside the outer hatch of the emergency exit. Russian
state T-V earlier had reported the escape hatch was
filled with water.
With all the conflicting information about the
condition of the hatch, it is not clear what the next
step will be. The Norwegian team is expected to try
to pry open the hatch to get into the air lock so they
can check meters there that could indicate if there is
any air pressure in the submarine's compartments.
It is not clear what role a British mini-submarine,
which arrived at the accident site Saturday, will have
in the next phase of the rescue operation. Russian
officials had said early Sunday the mini-submarine,
like Russian submersibles, would not be able to dock
with the Kursk because of the extent of the
submarine's damage. But, Norwegian officials have
contradicted that report as well.
Since news of the accident broke last Monday,
conflicting reports have frustrated relatives of the
submarine's crew and the media, which has been trying
to piece together information about what happened to
the Kursk.
Public anger has increased over the government's
handling of the disaster and President Vladimir
Putin's early silence. The Russian leader did not make
a public statement on the disaster until Wednesday,
some four days after the accident, when he also
accepted foreign offers of help. Now Mr. Putin says
the rescue operation will continue, in his words, to
the last moment, even though hopes of finding any
survivors are fading fast. (Signed)
NEB/LK/KBK
20-Aug-2000 15:30 PM EDT (20-Aug-2000 1930 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
