Russian Nuclear Submarine Fire Extinguished, Authorities Insist No Radiation Leak

Russian Nuclear Submarine Fire Put Out
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The fire that engulfed a Russian nuclear submarine and burned for over 24-hours has finally been extinguished, officials have said.

Some sailors remained inside the a burning submarine while seven others were rushed to hospital, suffering from toxic fume inhalation.

The Yekaterinburg caught fire in the Roslyakovo shipyard in the Arctic mid-day on Thursday. Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Interfax news agency on Friday afternoon that "the fire on the submarine has been totally extinguished".

Russian authorities insisted there had been no radiation leak from the submarine and that its 16 intercontinental ballistic nuclear missiles were not on board at the time the fire broke out.

Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told The Associated Press the fire had started on the wooden scaffolding and then engulfed the submarine's outer hull.

He said the fire had now been contained, and there was no danger of it spreading inside.

The Yekaterinburg is a Delta-IV-class nuclear-powered submarine built in 1984.

Footage from the scene shows firefighters dousing the submarine in water as plumes of smoke rose into the night sky.