NOVOSIBIRSK, January 11 (RIA Novosti corr. Yuri Belov) - The number of victims of the tragedy at the Sibirskaya mine in Kuzbass (Siberia) where a methane explosion took place has reached five people. Saturday night rescuers brought to the surface the bodies of the last two miners who were considered missing.
Firefighting is still underway at the mine. An officer on duty at the Kemerovo region department for civil defense and emergencies said gas inside the mine is the reason why the fire still can't be put out.
The accident in Anzhero-Sudzhensk took place Saturday around 8.30 Moscow time. According to preliminary data, methane exploded at a depth of some 700m. This was probably caused by malfunctions of electric equipment.
57 people were caught by the explosion. The majority were brought to the surface. 16 miners were hospitalized. They either suffered burns or were poisoned with combustion products.
