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Commission to probe into Kuzbass mine flooding

The investigation will establish the causes of the accident

KEMEROVO, March 27 (Itar-Tass) – The Siberian department of the Russian Federal Service of Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor) has launched an investigation into the accident in the Osinnikovskaya mine in the Kemerovo Region, where the flooding of the mine occurred overnight to Wednesday in which three people were injured, and the fate of four miners remains unknown, the department told Itar-Tass.

“The interdepartmental commission, headed by a representative of the Siberian Rostekhnadzor department will be working at the enterprise. The investigation will establish the causes of the accident. The investigation will be conducted within the legal period,” an official of the department said.

“Investigating bodies of the Kemerovo Region have also started a preliminary examination, on the results of which a procedural decision will be made,” the press service of the regional investigation department of Russia’s Investigative Committee (SK) reported.

The mine rescuers are currently exploring the flooded section.

A total of 139 people were evacuated from the mine overnight to Wednesday, three of them were injured. The search for another four miners is underway.

According to preliminary information, maintenance works for water discharge from flooded drifts were conducted in the mine, during which a 10-metre rock bed was destroyed that resulted in the water breakthrough.