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Criminal case opened over methane explosion at Kemerovo mine

Seven miners were hospitalized
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

GORNO-ALTAISK, November 26 (Itar-Tass) — Criminal proceedings have been launched following a methane explosion at the Gramoteinskaya coalmine in Belovo town of Russia’s Kemerovo region on Sunday, the press service of the regional investigative department reported on Monday.

The methane explosion occurred at about 8 am local time on Sunday. Seven miners were hospitalized as a result with face and arms burns as well as burns of upper respiratory airways. The criminal case has been opened under Part 1 of Article 216 of the Russian Criminal Code (violation of safety rules during mining operations if this has inflicted damage to people’s health or major damage through negligence).

There were 55 miners in the mine at the moment of the explosion. All workers went up to the surface on their own. Seven were hospitalized. Work at the mine has been suspended.

Kemerovo Region Governor Aman Tuleyev issued instructions to set up an interdepartmental commission to look into the incident. He sent telegrams to the headsof Kuzbass coalmining enterprises with the demand to make emergency inspections, paying particular attention to methane concentration in mines.

The Gramoteinskaya coalmine is incorporated in the Yuzhkuzbassugol coalmining company.