MOSCOW, September 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's natural resources watchdog will hold an urgent inspection of a number of coal and gold mining enterprises in three Russian regions, the Natural Resources Ministry said Friday.
At least 11 miners were killed in a fire that broke out Thursday at a goldmine in the Chita Region, and it is still unclear whether the 20 people who remain underground are alive. Thirty-one miners were evacuated.
The Federal Service for the Oversight of Natural Resources will also inspect the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Kemerovo Region.
A preliminary investigation showed that the fire was likely to have been caused by a failure to observe fire safety regulations during welding work. Criminal proceedings were launched.
