World News 21-08-2000 Divers Reach Russian Sub Escape Hatch who: More than 100 Russian sailors what: Fate still unknown as Norwegian divers open outer escape hatch where: Barents Sea when: Yesterday snippet: "The Russian navy says a team of Norwegian divers has succeeded in opening the outer hatch of the sunken submarine Kursk," reports the BBC this morning. "There was no immediate sign of survivors, but the vessel`s inner hatch has still to be opened." On August 12th the nuclear sub became stranded on the bed of the Barents Sea after a suspected collision with another vessel. There is now confusion over the role of a British rescue submersible which arrived on the scene on Saturday, following disputed evidence that the sub`s emergency escape hatch is damaged beyond repair. "Hi-tech video equipment filmed the divers struggling for hours in the icy depths to open the hatch with powerful tools," says The Mirror. "A spokesman for the Norwegian armed forces said the divers did not believe the hatch was too damaged and thought it could be opened fairly easily." "With sorrow in our hearts and, I do not exaggerate, tears in our eyes, we are following all that is happening in the Barents Sea. The sailors are doing everything to save their comrades," said Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday. [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!