46 miners and 6 rescuers die in a coal mine explosion in Russia

The authorities of the Russian region of Kemerovo (Western Siberia) they have declared dead a 46 miners and 6 rescuers as a result of an accident that occurred this Thursday in a coal mine.

“We have declared the 35 missing miners dead, bringing the total dead to 52 people (46 miners and 6 rescuers),” the governor of this region, Sergei Tsiviliov, reported on his Telegram channel.

According to the authorities, they continue 38 miners and 11 rescuers admitted.

“The possible cause of the accident was a methane explosion. The exact cause will be established by a commission, “added the governor, who reported the arrival of three units of military rescuers at the mine.

According to Tsiviliov, rescuers “will isolate a segment of the mines … that was naturally filled with methane. Within approximately three days the gas level will increase to 20% and the danger of explosion will be reduced.”

“As soon as that happens, the measure will be taken regarding the continuation of the search efforts,” he added.

During these three days the rescuers will continue working to alleviate the consequences of the fire that broke out in the mine and reduce the possibility of new ones being unleashed. In addition, a well will be drilled to extinguish possible outbreaks in the mine.

According to the regional department of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations, at the time of the accident at the coal mine there were a total of 285 workers, of whom 236 were immediately evacuated.

According to sources from the Listviázhnaya mine administration, the fire occurred 250 meters deep as a result of an explosion in the ventilation system.

The last serious accident in this mine, which began to be mined in 1956 under the name Gramoteinskaya 1-2, and which has since been rebuilt and modernized, was produced in 2004, when an explosion caused the death of thirteen workers.