A total of 52 people were killed after smoke occurred in a coal mine in Russia. The Mishap included 6 recruiters among the dead in Russia’s Kemerovo Region.
As per the Xinhua news agency, it is the most deadly mine accident in Russia in the last 5 years.
According to the preliminary data, there are no survivors from the Listvyazhnaya mine. For some time, most of the dead bodies will remain underground. It shall be raised to the surface when temperature, methane, and concentration permits
The earlier reports of the incident suggest that 11 people were killed. The reports suggest that the incident took place due to the ignition of ventilation and the ensuing smoke at a depth of 250 meters.
As per the regional authorities, 38 were hospitalized and 4 are in serious condition. 13 of them are receiving outpatient treatment.
There were 238 people underground when the incident took place, and most of them were lifted out.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his “deepest condolences” to the families of the deceased. A mounting of 3 days has been announced in Kemerovo Region from Friday to Sunday.
President Vladimir Putin said he had spoken with the governor and emergency officials. The Kremlin said he had ordered the emergency minister to fly to the region to help.
By night, a failed operation to reach dozens of missing miners has become a tragedy. Several rescuers themselves suffocated.
The incident at Listvyazhnaya mine, in the Kemerovo region, is 3,500 km (2,175 miles) east of Moscow city. The incident took place at around 08:35 local time (01:35 GMT) on Thursday.
Dozens were caught, but the rescue operation had to be suspended after dangerously high levels of methane were detected in the mine. This prompted fears of possible explosions.
One rescue team failed to emerge back from the mine. Later, 3 of its members were found dead. As per sources, no further survivors are expected to be found.
Three people, including the mine director, have been arrested in the case. The arrest is made in the case of alleged safety failings.
The Listvyazhnaya mine is part of SDS-Holding, owned by the privately held Siberian Business Union. The owner had no immediate comment.
It is not that mine accidents are uncommon in Russia. According to local media, an accident has previously occurred at the mine. A methane gas accident killed 13 at the mine in 2004.
In 2016, authorities assessed the safety of the country’s 58 coal mines. It declared 34% of them potentially unsafe. The list did not include the Listvyazhnaya mine at the time, Russian reports say.
In 2007, the region was the site of the worst mining accident since the collapse of the Soviet Union. An explosion at the Ulyanovskaya mine claimed the lives of more than 100 people. In 2010, explosions at the region’s Raspadskaya mine killed more than 90 people.
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