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Rescue attempts at Siberia mine Search at stricken Siberian mine
(about 3 hours later)
Attempts to rescue four Russian coal miners trapped underground are continuing, after an explosion killed 106 people at a Siberian pit on Monday.Attempts to rescue four Russian coal miners trapped underground are continuing, after an explosion killed 106 people at a Siberian pit on Monday.
Some 93 people were rescued from the mine, which was devastated by a methane explosion. Some 93 people were rescued from the Ulyanovskaya mine, which was devastated by a methane explosion.
It was one of the worst disasters in a decade in Russia's mining industry, which has a notorious safety record. Virtually the whole of the mine's management died in the blast. A British engineer was also among the dead.
Rescuers described a scene of utter devastation, with collapsed and flooded mineshafts and bodies ripped apart.
The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow says it is Russia's worst mining disaster for a generation.
It occurred at 1030 (0730 GMT) on Monday, at a depth of about 270m (885 feet).
Russian mines suffered from the loss of state subsidies after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
However, the mine in question was only built a few years ago and had just had a new safety system installed.However, the mine in question was only built a few years ago and had just had a new safety system installed.
The disaster occurred at 1030 Moscow time (0730 GMT) on Monday at the Ulyanovskaya mine in Kemerovo region, nearly 3,000km (1,850 miles) east of Moscow. The mine is run by Yuzhkuzbassugol, an affiliate of Russian coal and steel firm Evraz Group SA. It lies in the Kuzbass coal area in Kemerovo region, nearly 3,000km (1,850 miles) east of Moscow.
ObstaclesObstacles
The governor of Kemerovo province, Aman Tuleyev, said 20 members of the mine's management team were among the dead, including the facility's chief engineer and chief mechanic.The governor of Kemerovo province, Aman Tuleyev, said 20 members of the mine's management team were among the dead, including the facility's chief engineer and chief mechanic.
"Today we were to launch at this mine an English system to ensure the secure mine work underground," he said."Today we were to launch at this mine an English system to ensure the secure mine work underground," he said.
It is thought a British citizen was among those killed in the accident, but he has not been named. Mr Tuleyev's spokesman Sergei Cheremnov said the search was "very difficult" as there was "bad ventilation, flooding and a lot of destruction".
The blast occurred at a depth of about 270m (885 feet). Rescuers also reported smoke, pockets of gas and collapsed roofs.
Rescue workers were finding their job complicated by smoke, pockets of gas and collapsed roofs.
"Unfortunately, the conditions are very difficult," said a spokesman for the emergency situations ministry.
There were thought to be about 200 miners working in the mine when the methane exploded.There were thought to be about 200 miners working in the mine when the methane exploded.
There were conflicting reports as to whether the rescue teams had managed to make contact with any of the missing miners.There were conflicting reports as to whether the rescue teams had managed to make contact with any of the missing miners.
"We just hope that they are alive," said one miner taking part in the rescue operation, his face caked with coal dust."We just hope that they are alive," said one miner taking part in the rescue operation, his face caked with coal dust.
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.
A methane blast at a Kemerovo coal mine killed 21 miners in 2005.A methane blast at a Kemerovo coal mine killed 21 miners in 2005.
But the Ulyanovskaya mine was opened only four-and-a-half years ago and Governor Tuleyev said the mine was fitted with modern equipment. But the Ulyanovskaya mine was opened only four-and-a-half years ago and Governor Tuleyev said the mine had been fitted with modern equipment.
Emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu has been ordered to the area by President Vladimir Putin to oversee the rescue operation, Russian news agencies said. Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu was sent to the area by President Vladimir Putin to oversee the rescue operation. The president has ordered a full investigation.
Are you in the area? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the area? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk.
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