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Nine dead in Russian mine blast Nine dead in Russian mine blast
(about 1 hour later)
At least nine people have been killed in an explosion at a mine in north-west Russia, reports say. At least nine people have been killed in an explosion at a mine in north-west Russia, officials say.
Three other people are still missing following the blast in the Murmansk region, Ria news agency says. Three other people are still missing following the blast at the mine near Kirovsk, in the Murmansk region.
Workers at the mine, near the town of Kirovsk, were excavating apatite, a mineral often used to make fertiliser, when the blast happened. Workers were conducting controlled explosions at the mine when the blast occurred, according to Russian reports.
Reports say the blast occurred as they were conducting controlled explosions at the mine. The mine is said to be owned by OAO Apatit, a major Russian company that produces apatite, a mineral commonly used in fertiliser.
"A large-scale blast was being prepared at the mine for which 55 tonnes of explosives had been laid," a source at the emergency situations ministry told Interfax news agency."A large-scale blast was being prepared at the mine for which 55 tonnes of explosives had been laid," a source at the emergency situations ministry told Interfax news agency.
The source also said 12 people had died and four were injured, although a spokeswoman for the ministry in Murmansk put the death toll at nine.The source also said 12 people had died and four were injured, although a spokeswoman for the ministry in Murmansk put the death toll at nine.
"After the blast, a fire occurred and there were 12 people in the mine. Nine are dead and three are missing," Irina Gretskaya told Reuters news agency."After the blast, a fire occurred and there were 12 people in the mine. Nine are dead and three are missing," Irina Gretskaya told Reuters news agency.
Many of Russia's mines have poor safety standards and have not been updated since the fall of communism.Many of Russia's mines have poor safety standards and have not been updated since the fall of communism.