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Sailor responsible for Russian nuclear sub accident
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-13 22:06

MOSCOW  -- A sailor activated the fire extinguishing system aboard the Russian nuclear submarine Nerpa, causing the deaths of 20 people, investigators said on Thursday.

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"Military investigators have determined the person who activated, without permission and any particular reason, a fire safety system on board the submarine," Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for the investigative committee, was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

The sailor has already confessed, Markin said, adding that a criminal case has been opened against him, who may face up to seven years in jail.

The tragedy occurred Saturday while the submarine was on sea trials in the Sea of Japan. Three naval officers and 17 members of a shipyard crew were killed in the accident and another 21 people were injured.

There were 208 people aboard the submarine when the accident occurred, including 81 military servicemen.

The last major tragedy on a Russian nuclear submarine occurred on August 12, 2000, when the Kursk sank during a military exercise in the Barents Sea after an explosion ripped through the vessel. All 118 sailors perished.

The latest similar accident involving a Russian submarine was reported in September 2006, when two servicemen were killed and another was injured in a shipboard fire.