World

Death toll at Russian coal mine reaches 36

Rescue workers and trapped miners killed

Rescuers leaving an elevator in Vorkuta, Russia. Officials say a total of 36 people are believed to have died at a coal mine where a methane gas leak triggered three explosions and the collapse of the mine. Photograph: Russian ministry of emergency situations/AP
Rescuers leaving an elevator in Vorkuta, Russia. Officials say a total of 36 people are believed to have died at a coal mine where a methane gas leak triggered three explosions and the collapse of the mine. Photograph: Russian ministry of emergency situations/AP
Sun Feb 28 2016 - 20:12

Six rescue workers were killed yesterday in a failed attempt to reach 26 stranded coal miners in northern Russia.

Vladimir Puchkov, minister of emergency situations, said the rescue operation was over and all the missing miners who had been trapped by a cave-in were dead.

“The circumstances in the affected part of the mine did not allow anyone to survive,” Mr Puchkov, said. “In the underground space where the 26 miners were, there were high temperatures and no oxygen.”

The bodies of four miners were recovered after the initial disaster on Thursday bringing the death toll to 36. – (New York Times service)