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Russian gold mine fire kills 12 Russian gold mine fire kills 12
(10 minutes later)
Twelve miners have been killed and more than 20 remain trapped following a fire in a gold mine in Russia's far east.Twelve miners have been killed and more than 20 remain trapped following a fire in a gold mine in Russia's far east.
The blaze broke out in the Darasun mine in the Chita region of Siberia.The blaze broke out in the Darasun mine in the Chita region of Siberia.
The fire, between 85m and 130m (230-430ft) below ground, has been contained but is still burning, the authorities say.The fire, between 85m and 130m (230-430ft) below ground, has been contained but is still burning, the authorities say.
Rescue work has been hampered by smoke. Fifteen miners who were saved from the blaze are being treated in hospital for smoke inhalation.Rescue work has been hampered by smoke. Fifteen miners who were saved from the blaze are being treated in hospital for smoke inhalation.
Those of us who could... got out. The remaining are still down there. My brother's there. I can't say any more Nikolai BronnikovRussian minerThose of us who could... got out. The remaining are still down there. My brother's there. I can't say any more Nikolai BronnikovRussian miner
Specialist teams were being flown to the Darasun mine, which is about 4,700km (2,900 miles) east of Moscow, Russian emergency officials said.Specialist teams were being flown to the Darasun mine, which is about 4,700km (2,900 miles) east of Moscow, Russian emergency officials said.
Hope of survivorsHope of survivors
The cause of the fire is not yet unclear.The cause of the fire is not yet unclear.
The company which owns the mine, Highland Gold Mining, said the bodies of 12 miners had been recovered.The company which owns the mine, Highland Gold Mining, said the bodies of 12 miners had been recovered.
"The main thing today and now is to save the people and finish off this rescue operation," said Dmitry Yakushkin, the company's communication director."The main thing today and now is to save the people and finish off this rescue operation," said Dmitry Yakushkin, the company's communication director.
A spokesman for Russia's emergencies ministry said there was still hope of finding survivors.A spokesman for Russia's emergencies ministry said there was still hope of finding survivors.
The trapped miners have breathing devices that should help them survive for several hours, Russian media reported.The trapped miners have breathing devices that should help them survive for several hours, Russian media reported.
One miner described what happened when the blaze broke out.One miner described what happened when the blaze broke out.
"It got smoky. Those of us who could - there was five of us - got out. The others are back in the mine," Nikolai Bronnikov told Russian TV."It got smoky. Those of us who could - there was five of us - got out. The others are back in the mine," Nikolai Bronnikov told Russian TV.
"Other guys used emergency exits and got to the surface. The remaining are still down there. My brother's there. I can't say any more.""Other guys used emergency exits and got to the surface. The remaining are still down there. My brother's there. I can't say any more."
Highland Gold Mining, which is registered in Jersey, saw its shares fall more than 7% during trading on the London Stock Exchange on Friday morning.
Russia's gold mines have a better safety record than the coal-mining industry, where many accidents have happened since the early 1990s.Russia's gold mines have a better safety record than the coal-mining industry, where many accidents have happened since the early 1990s.