"The aftermath of the catastrophe is being intensively cleared, but the hope to rescue the miners is minimal," the press release reads.
The rescue team had passed about 10 meters along the piercing and the gradient over the past 24 hours.
The rescue operation is being performed by the mine's high-qualified team under the supervision of the Paramilitary Mountain Rescue Unit, the press service reports. A detachment of rescuers and doctors is permanently on duty at the mine.
The rescue operation staff reported earlier that rescue works were carried out non-stop.
"The goafs are being cleaned, and the miners are still reported missing," a staff member said".
The rock in the Severnaya mine caved Tuesday night, when 154 miners were inside. 146 of them managed to get out, and on Wednesday night three other miners were rescued. Also on Wednesday, rescuers took out the body of another miner.
