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Siberian mine explosion kills 25 Siberian mine explosion kills 25
(20 minutes later)
A methane explosion at a coal mine in Siberia has killed at least 25 people, Russian officials have said.A methane explosion at a coal mine in Siberia has killed at least 25 people, Russian officials have said.
They said 88 miners, several of them injured, had been rescued after the blast at the Ulyanovskaya mine in the Kemerovo region.They said 88 miners, several of them injured, had been rescued after the blast at the Ulyanovskaya mine in the Kemerovo region.
The officials said at least 168 miners were underground at the time of the blast. Dozens still remain trapped.The officials said at least 168 miners were underground at the time of the blast. Dozens still remain trapped.
Russia's coal mines are notoriously unsafe. A methane blast at a Kemerovo coal mine killed 21 miners in 2005.Russia's coal mines are notoriously unsafe. A methane blast at a Kemerovo coal mine killed 21 miners in 2005.
RescuedRescued
The blast at Ulyanovskaya happened at about 1030 Moscow time (0730 GMT).The blast at Ulyanovskaya happened at about 1030 Moscow time (0730 GMT).
"It was a methane gas explosion," a spokeswoman at Russia's emergency ministry told AFP news agency."It was a methane gas explosion," a spokeswoman at Russia's emergency ministry told AFP news agency.
Local officials said that 88 miners had been brought to the surface so far.
Rescue teams are continuing their search for the remaining miners still trapped underground. Their fate remains unknown.Rescue teams are continuing their search for the remaining miners still trapped underground. Their fate remains unknown.
President Vladimir Putin ordered Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu to fly to the area to oversee the rescue operation, Russian news agencies reported.President Vladimir Putin ordered Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu to fly to the area to oversee the rescue operation, Russian news agencies reported.
The mine is located in Novokuznetsk, about 3,000km (1,850 miles) east of the capital, Moscow. The mine is located in Novokuznetsk, about 3,000km (1,850 miles) east of Moscow.
It was opened in 2002 and had modern equipment, regional officials said.It was opened in 2002 and had modern equipment, regional officials said.
Russia's coal mines are largely unprofitable and many have not invested in new safety equipment since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.Russia's coal mines are largely unprofitable and many have not invested in new safety equipment since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.


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