RUSSIA: HEALTH WORKERS AND ECOLOGISTS IN MURMANSK MONITOR RADIATION LEVELS FOLLOWING SINKING OF NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE THE KURSK

Record ID: 588587

  • Title: RUSSIA: HEALTH WORKERS AND ECOLOGISTS IN MURMANSK MONITOR RADIATION LEVELS FOLLOWING SINKING OF NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE THE KURSK
  • Date: 21st August 2000
  • Summary: MURMANSK, RUSSIA (AUGUST 21, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GENERAL VIEW OF THE CITY 0.07 2. SLV/CU: EXTERIOR OF EMERGENCY MINISTRY BUILDING /SIGN (2 SHOTS) 0.20 3. ZOOM INTO DIGITAL DISPLAY WITH VARIOUS PARAMETRES OF TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE 0.32 4. SLV: WOMAN ENTERING BUILDING 0.39 5. MV: INTERIOR OF DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT CONTROL/VARIOUS COMPUTERS AND RESEARCHERS WORKING 0.43 6. CU: COMPUTER SCREEN 0.50 7. SV: OLGA MOKROTOVAROVA, HEAD OF THE MURMANSK ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT AT THE MAP, SHOWING WHERE THE SUB IS LOCATED 0.56 8. CU: CUTAWAY MAP 1.03 9. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) OLGA MOKROTOVAROVA SAYING: "First of all the sub is lying quite deep. Secondly it is in the zone of underwater currrents. In any case, even in the worst scenario, the radioactive substances would be dissolved and carried away by currents. But these are all suppositions, we need exact data. But as we know the Norwegian specialists are monitoring radiation level in the water and they have not detected any radiation changes and this confirms our data that nothing dramatic is happening with the environment. There are other problems there." 1.47 10. CU: COMPUTER SCREEN 1.53 11. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) OLGA MOKROTOVAROVA: "In case something happens we have started daily measurements of the radiation level in the atmosphere and we will send out results to the Civil Defence Headquarters and regional administration. They will decide what to do" 2.16 12. SV: MAP 2.21 13. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) OLGA MOKROTOVAROVA: "No, the military is not informing us and they don't have to. But on a human level it would be helpful to get a thorough and detailed information from them" 2.41 14. SV: WOMAN AT COMPUTER 2.48 15. SLV: EXTERIOR OF METEOROLOGICAL STATION 2.52 16. MV: IRINA YEGOROVA, METEOROLOGY SPECIALIST, LEAVING METEOROLOGICAL STATION 3.02 17. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) YEGOROVA SAYING: "It's very frightening when such things happen so close. When you realise what has happened and that the worst can happen at any moment, when you would have to leave behind everything and run. It is fine if you have somewhere to go, but otherwise...it's very frightening." 3.20 18. SV: YEGOROVA OPENING BOX AND MONITORING TEMPERATURE EQUIPMENT 3.26 19. SLV: EQUIPMENT 3.31 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 5th September 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MURMANSK, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVA7VRPUD66IH1F9AAZV7323OJ73
  • Story Text: Russian health workers and ecologists in the north
    Russian city of Murmansk have been warily monitoring radiation
    levels on Monday (August 21) in response to the sinking of the
    nuclear-powered submarine Kursk just a few kilometres from
    their shoreline.



    Russian officals have said that the nuclear-powered
    submarine Kursk presents no radiation danger from where it
    sits at the bottom of the Barents Sea.

    But the waters that wash over the sunken ship drift into
    the sea port of Murmansk --and here people are worried and
    taking no chances.

    Ordinary citizens are suspicious that their government and
    military are not telling them the entire truth.

    But the government does acknowledge that there were
    probably two large blasts on the submarine, and the
    possibility that these blasts spewed radiation into the waters
    has scared many.

    Ecologists and health officials in Murmansk are busy
    monitoring the water and air for signs of radiation.

    Olga Mokrotovarova, head of the Murmansk Environmental
    Department, said that there was unlikely to be any danger.

    "First of all the sub is lying quite deep. Secondly it is in
    the zone of underwater currrents. In any case, even in the
    worst scenario, the radioactive substances would be dissolved
    and carried away by currents." she said.

    Mokrotovarova said, however, that her department is taking
    a cautious appproach."In case something happens we have
    started daily measurements of the radiation level in the
    atmosphere and we will send out results to the Civil Defence
    Headquarters and regional administration. They will decide
    what to do".

    Meteorological specialist Irana Yegorova said that it was
    frightening to be living in the area. "You realise what has
    happened and that the worst can happen at any moment" she
    said. "You would have to leave behind everything and run. It
    is fine if you have somewhere to go, but otherwise...it's very
    frightening."



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