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Nine dead in Russian mine blast Russia's mine blast toll grows
(about 5 hours later)
At least nine people have been killed in an explosion at a mine in north-west Russia, officials say. At least 12 people are now known to have been killed in a blast at a mine in north-west Russia, officials say.
Three other people are still missing following the blast at the mine near Kirovsk, in the Murmansk region. Five people were injured in the overnight explosion at the mine near Kirovsk, in the Murmansk region.
Workers were conducting controlled explosions at the mine when the blast occurred, according to Russian reports. Workers were conducting controlled explosions at the mine when the blast occurred, the officials said.
The mine is said to be owned by OAO Apatit, a major Russian company that produces apatite, a mineral commonly used in fertiliser. The mine is operated by OAO Apatit, a major Russian company that produces apatite - a mineral commonly used in making 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. "At the moment we know that 12 people died. Five were injured and they are in hospital," Russia's Emergencies Ministry spokeswoman Irina Gretskaya said.
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. "There were 18 people in the mine when the accident happened, so we do not know about one miner," she said.
"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. Officials initially said nine people were killed.
Russia's mining safety watchdog has launched an investigation into the accident.
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.