Mining disaster

At least 12 people were killed and more than 80 miners and rescuers remain trapped in a Russian mine on Sunday after two methane gas explosions in the Kemerova region of Siberia.

The first explosion at the Raspadskaya coal mine in western Siberia occurred late Saturday night, with the second following a few hours later as a rescue operation was underway, trapping workers who had entered the mine to find survivors.

Rescue efforts have since been suspended due to fears the high concentration of methane gas could lead to further explosions.

"The rescue efforts will resume once the atmosphere is restored in the mine," said Aman Tuleyev, governor of the Kemerovo region, according to the Itar-Tass news agency. "But to carry out rescue work now - that would be sending people to their deaths."

According to a company source who spoke with Itar-Tass, more than 350 workers in the mine had no time to escape before a sudden build-up of methane gas triggered the explosion.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered officials to do everything they could in the rescue efforts. Officials from the public prosecutor's office meanwhile announced an investigation into a possible breach of occupational safety.

"It is clear that the situation at the mine is very hard. I would say that it is tragic," said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during a meeting with emergency officials broadcast on state television.

"The saddest thing is that we cannot send in additional rescuers now as it is very dangerous due to the lack of ventilation. But we cannot sit on our hands and must do everything to save people," he added.

The Raspadskaya mine is the largest of its kind in Russia. In operation since 1973, it produces 8 million tons of coal a year for the domestic market as well as export markets in Ukraine and Asia.

cmk/AFP/dpa
Editor: Kyle James