Navy Command: The sunk submarine presents no danger

Captain Igor Dygalo, aide to the Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief, stated that the K-159 nuclear submarine which sank on Saturday in the Barents Sea presented no danger.

According to him, the radiation situation at the site of the accident was normal.

Dygalo stated that "three large antisubmarine vessels -- Severomorsk, Admiral Levchenko and Admiral Chabanenko, as well as 4 rescue ships -- SB-406, Altai, Pamir and Titov -- were operating there. An Il-38 aircraft was also engaged in the rescue operation." The aide to the Navy Commander-in-Chief reported that "the sea was moderate, the wind speed was 12 meters per second." The Russian K-159 nuclear submarine sank at about 04.00 Moscow time three miles to the north-west from the Kildin island. The submarine's reactor was placed in the state of nuclear safety and the ammunition was unloaded.

10 crew members were staying on board the submarine. One of them was saved. Two dead bodies were discovered. Search for the remaining 7 is going on.