Twenty people were killed after the accidental failure of a fire extinguishing system [File: EPA]

The incident on Saturday involved the failure of a fire extinguishing system.

A naval spokesman confirmed the reports, adding that 208 people were on board.

A firefighting system went off during testing of a nuclear submarine in Russia's Pacific Fleet, a senior navy official was quoted as saying by the Russian Itar-Tass news agency.

"During sea trials of a nuclear-powered submarine of the Pacific Fleet the firefighting system went off unsanctioned, killing over 20 people, including servicemen and workers," Igor Dygalo, the Russian Pacific Fleet spokesman, said.

"The submarine is not damaged, its reactor works as normal, and radiation levels on the submarine are normal," Dygalo said.

It was unclear what activated the fire-extinguishing system or how the victims were killed. Such systems are fairly sophisticated and often rely on foam and chemicals to put out the fire.

Investigation under way

The submarine, whose name and whereabouts have not been disclosed, has been ordered to suspend sea trials and return to port in the far eastern Primorye territory, he said.

Anatoly Serdyukov, Russia's defence minister, reported the incident to Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, who had ordered a "full and meticulous" investigation and "all possible aid and support to the victims' families," according to the report.

Military prosecutors are investigating the incident.

An anti-submarine ship, the Admiral Tributs, was providing assistance and taking some of the injured crew from the submarine to port, news agencies reported.

Russia's worst submarine disaster occurred in August 2000, when the nuclear-powered Kursk sank in the Barents Sea, 118 people on board died in the incident.

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