Explosions Recorded Where Sub Sank

A Norwegian seismic institute recorded two explosions Aug. 12 where a stricken Russian submarine sank off north Russia, the biggest as strong as one or two tons of TNT. The recordings backed theories of explosions aboard the Kursk submarine, now lying on the bottom of the Barents Sea with its 118 crew still aboard. Russia kept up rescue efforts on Friday amid fading hopes of finding survivors.

Norwegian officials said the data matched theories of a blast aboard the nuclear-powered vessel, perhaps in a torpedo that may have triggered another, bigger explosion. They doubted that either of the jolts could mark a collision between two submarines or the thud of the submarine hitting the soft, muddy seabed at a depth of 354 ft.