“The search continued, while there was still hope to find survivors”: the details of the state of emergency near Arkhangelsk were told at Rosatom

An incident with a fire and subsequent explosion in Severodvinsk occurred during a missile test on an offshore platform. This was reported in Rosatom.

“The rocket tests took place on an offshore platform. After the tests were completed, rocket fuel ignited, followed by detonation, ”RIA Novosti quoted the statement of the Rosatom communications department.

It is noted that after the explosion several employees were thrown into the sea, and until a certain time the hope remained to find them alive.

“The search continued until there was hope to find survivors. Only after that, the death of five Rosatom employees who were involved in work related to a radioisotope power source that was part of the rocket was announced, ”the state corporation explained.

Rosatom noted that the victims knew about the importance and potential danger of work.

“Specialists work in conditions of potential risk inherent in all tests,” the company said. According to representatives of Rosatom, "there was a confluence of factors, which often happens when testing new technologies." The company noted that they will provide long-term financial support to the families of the victims.

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“The financial responsibility for the future of the families of the deceased comrades now, of course, lies with Rosatom State Corporation. This is not just about one-time care. This is a small part of what we can do as a sign of gratitude to the dedicated work of the testers who sacrificed their lives for the safety of all of us, ”Rosatom said.

Recall, on August 8, an emergency occurred in a military unit near the city of Severodvinsk in the Arkhangelsk region. The Ministry of Defense reported that the incident occurred during tests of a jet liquid propulsion system. Shortly after the incident, the agency reported two dead and five injured.

Later, Rosatom specified that five employees of the company were killed as a result of the incident, three more were injured. We are talking about various injuries and burns of varying severity. All wounded representatives of the company were delivered to a specialized medical institution, they receive all the necessary medical care.

Shortly after the incident in Severodvinsk, a short-term increase in the radiation background was recorded. So, in Severodvinsk, an increased level of radiation was noted within half an hour.

As explained by the head of the civil protection department of the administration of Severodvinsk, Valentin Magomedov, the radiation level increased by half an hour to two microsievert per hour. As previously noted in the press service of the city hall, the limit level is 0.6 μSv / h.

Later, on August 10, the Ministry of Emergencies also confirmed that the radiation background in the settlements of the Arkhangelsk region is at a natural level and amounts to no more than 13 micro-roentgen per hour. This information was obtained from the automated system for monitoring the radiation situation (ASKRO).

According to the agency, the radiation background is normal in Arkhangelsk, Severodvinsk, Novodvinsk, in Onega, Primorsky districts and Noneksa settlement.

“This is 12-13 microroentgen per hour. In Arkhangelsk and Severodvinsk there are ASKRO sensors. These are sensors of an objective control system. We don’t have to talk about any danger today, ”Dmitry Chistyakov, head of the press center of the regional head department of the Ministry of Emergencies, quotes TASS.

The representative of the Ministry of Emergency Situations added that the radiation background at various points in the Primorsky and Onega regions and around Severodvinsk is under the control of mobile laboratories.

“The readings of the ASKRO system are controlled by the Institute for Problems of Safe Development of Nuclear Energy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which also confirms the objectivity of the sensors of this control, these indicators,” Chistyakov said.

Shortly before that, Finland also confirmed that the radiation background after the incident with the Russian Severodvinsk is normal. This was announced at the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Center (STUK).

“The radiation situation in Finland is normal. STUK measures air radioactivity in eight different locations and monitors the radiation situation through a continuous network of measuring stations covering the whole country. STUK will inform you of any conclusions made during the external monitoring, ”the center said in a statement.