One person died and a dozen people have been injured after Russia’s sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov caught fire while undergoing repairs in Murmansk.
The fire broke out in the first power unit of the eight deck in the morning hours of December 12, according to Russian news agency Tass.
More than 400 workers were on board Admiral Kuznetsov when the fire occurred, Tass said citing a spokesperson of the Zvyozdochka Ship-Repairing Center, as saying.
Number of injured from fire onboard Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier reaches 10: https://t.co/OIHm52Orwk pic.twitter.com/JQ8rIEkoBI
— TASS (@tassagency_en) December 12, 2019
All employees were immediately evacuated from the carrier while firefighting teams were extinguishing the blaze which spread over an area of about 500 square meters.
The fire was put out in the morning hours of December 13.
Violation of safety rules is said to be a likely cause of the incident.
In October 2018, Admiral Kuznetsov was damaged after the 330-meter floating dry dock holding the carrier sank during a float-out operation in Murmansk.
The carrier started the refit in April 2018 and was expected to be returned to the navy in 2021.
Naval Today Staff