Russian nuclear submarine catches on fire at shipyard
A new Russian nuclear submarine, the Yuri Dolgoruky, drives in the water area of the Sevmash factory in the northern city of Arkhangelsk on July 2, 2009.
A fire broke out on a Russian nuclear submarine in the Arctic shipyard while it was docked for repairs in northern Russia on Thursday, the Associated Press reported.
According to Reuters, emergency officials have said that radiation levels are normal and the Defense Ministry reported that the nuclear reactor has been shut down.
The fire was likely started by fire safety violations during routine maintenance.
All weapons have been removed from the Yekaterinburg nuclear submarine, which had fired a ballistic missile as recently as July, said a navy spokesman to Reuters.
According to RIA Novosti, no deaths or injuries have been reported.
"There is no possibility of fire burning through the hull and no threat to on-board equipment," Northern Fleet spokesman Capt. 1st Rank Vadim Serga said.
The Yekaterinburg is a Delta-IV class nuclear-powered submarine. It normally carries 16 nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles, Reuters reported.
According to the AP, "Delta-IV class submarines are the core of the naval component of the Russian nuclear triad at present."
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