One dead, one missing in fire on Russia’s only aircraft carrier
- 10 people hospitalised after blaze breaks out in engine room of flagship Admiral Kuznetsov
- Search ongoing for officer who was helping evacuate workers from site
A naval serviceman died and an officer was missing Thursday after Russia’s only aircraft carrier caught fire in an Arctic shipyard, the latest accident to raise concern over the future of the navy flagship.
Russian news agencies quoted the Zvezdochka shipyard as saying the fire started during wielding operations in an engine room of the Admiral Kuznetsov, and investigators have launched a probe into possible construction violations.
“A Northern Fleet serviceman died during works to put out the source of smoke,” the fleet said in a statement to AFP.
A search was ongoing for an officer of the Admiral Kuznetsov who descended to the location of the welding works to help evacuate the workers.
An official in the Murmansk regional government, minister of information policy Alexandra Kondaurova, said that 10 people were hospitalised, one of whom was in serious condition.