How it came to the explosion at a depth of 250 meters is still uncertain. Several people die in the accident. There are still dozens of people in the mine without contact.
Kemerovo – At least eleven people were killed and dozen injured in a serious accident in a Russian coal mine in western Siberia.
The governor of the Kemerovo region, Sergei Tsivilev, announced on Thursday that there are still 46 people in the pit who have not been in contact.
A total of 239 workers were rescued from the “Listwjaschnaja” shaft in the Kuznetsk coal basin (Kuzbass), more than 40 of them had to be treated in hospitals, according to the civil defense. An explosion had occurred in the mine in the morning for an initially unknown cause.
Corridors full of smoke
The condition of the miners in the shaft was initially unclear. The mine tunnels were heavily filled with smoke, it was said. The workers could not save themselves. This was announced by Governor Ziwiljow after a video conference with Russian Civil Protection Minister Alexander Chuprijan. Rescue workers are on duty. Tschuprijan also traveled to the region.
The explosion is said to have occurred at a depth of 250 meters. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the relatives of the victims, as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Interfax agency. “We hope that those who are still there underground can be saved,” said Peskow. The president ordered rapid help for the injured.
Working in coal mining in Russia is considered life-threatening. Serious accidents occur time and again due to violations of elementary safety regulations. Methane gas, for example, often explodes. The highly flammable mine gas is released during work in the mining industry and, if there is poor ventilation, it collects in the shafts and routes. dpa
