Coal mine explosion in Russia kills 4, 26 missing

(Image courtesy of Vorkutagol )

Four miners died and twenty-six were still missing Friday after an accident at a coal mine in Russia’s far north Komi region, owned by Vorkutagol, a subsidiary of Severstal.

According to the company, 110 miners were underground at the time of the blasts, which occurred late Thursday at the Severnaya coal mine, Vorkutagol said Friday.

Russian coal mines have suffered multiple accidents in recent decades and are considered among the world’s most dangerous.

Vorkutagol said the mine collapse was the result of a methane gas leak that triggered two explosions at the site. It added that fire was still raging inside the mine and that rescue operations have not stopped since the time of the accident.

Russia’s investigative committee is investigating the mine accident and the Kremlin appointed a special commission to deal with it, parent company Severstal added.

Russian coal mines have suffered multiple accidents in recent decades and are considered among the most dangerous in the world, as many of them lack of up to date safety features.

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