Moscow, July 2: Fourteen seamen have died in a fire on a deep submersible, Russia's defence ministry said Tuesday, adding the vessel was currently at a military base in the northern city of Severomorsk. "On July 1, a fire broke out during biometric measurements on a scientific research deep-sea submersible," the defence ministry said. Gunmen Kill 18 in Attack on Niger Military Camp.

Fourteen submariners died as a result of poisoning from the fumes of the fire, a ministry spokeswoman confirmed to AFP. The fire has been put out, the ministry said, adding an investigation was underway.

The research was conducted to study areas near the seabed and the seabed itself of the ocean in the interests of the Russian naval fleet, the ministry said. The tragedy has echoes -- albeit on a smaller scale -- of the sinking of the Kursk submarine in August 2000 that claimed the lives of 118 personnel.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 02, 2019 08:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).