Firefighters have put out the blaze on Russia's nuclear submarine K-266 Orel that is dry docking for repair at a shipyard in Arkhangelsk, northern Russia.

The blaze started near the stern when the insulation between the submarine's outer and inner hulls caught fire during welding works.

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No casualties were reported and there were no weapons on board when the fire broke out.

"The source of the smoke on the submarine Orel, which is undergoing a refit at Zvyozdochka, has been completely put out," said Yevgeny Gladyshev, the spokesperson of the state-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation which runs the Zvyozdochka shipyard.

"Smoke is no longer coming out, only steam," Gladyshev added.

To further put out the blaze, the submarine's dock was submerged into the seawater while its hull was doused with overhead water.

According to Gladyshev, the water will not damage the equipment and electronic system inside the submarine because its inner hull remains well closed.

To dismiss fears of any radioactive contamination or environmental hazards, the shipyard official said the submarine's nuclear reactor has been shut down before the incident occurred.  The nuclear reactor's active zone was already unloaded when the repair started in 2013.

The Russian Investigative Committee said it will conduct a probe to determine if any violations of security and safety regulations led to the blaze.

The 155-meter long Orel submarine, allegedly equipped with anti-ship missiles, was launched in 1992 when it joined the Northern Fleet Base in Murmansk Region. In 2013, it was moved to Arkhangelsk in the White Sea for repairs.  

The incident brought to light the series of accidents involving Russia's nuclear submarines in the past few years.

In 2011, nine people were injured when the Russian K-84 Yekaterinburg caught fire while being repaired. In 2008, twenty people suffocated when the K-152 Nerpa's fire suppressant leaked some gas while on trial voyage at the Sea of Japan.  In 2006, two people died when the B-414 Daniil Moskovsky caught fire.

TagsRussia, nuclear submarine