Russian divers have pierced the inner hull of the wrecked Kursk submarine as they attempt to recover the 118 sailors killed when the vessel blew apart in the Barents Sea. Navy officials have warned, however, that worsening weather conditions could force them to abort the two-day-old mission. Yesterday, the divers pierced the exterior hull of compartment number eight of the submarine, situated towards the rear of the vessel. Working throughout the night, Norwegian rescuers removed its rubber coating.
Divers then drilled a small hole in the much thicker interior hull today in order to introduce a machine capable of measuring levels of radioactivity and taking water samples. The radioactivity levels of the water samples were later confirmed as normal, this confirmation will speed up the recovery operation. The Kursk has been lying on the bed of the Barents Sea in 108 metres of water since August 12, when the vessel sank after a massive explosion ripped through the hull. The sinking has still to be explained. 18 Russian, Norwegian and British divers will take part in the recovery.
