Death toll in mine disaster rises to 30
Russian state television said the death toll from two explosions in the country’s largest underground coal mine rose to 30, with about 60 people still trapped.
Rossiya 24 television said the government official heading the rescue operation announced the news during a briefing this morning at the Siberian mine.
Rescue workers were able to go down into parts of the mine hit by two explosions over the weekend. High levels of methane gas raised fears of further explosions and hindered rescue efforts.
Many of the dead were rescue workers who entered the Raspadskaya mine after the first blast. The second more powerful blast destroyed the main air shaft.
Emergency Minister Sergei Shoigu is heading a team of more than 500 rescue workers.
