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Three-day mourning announced in Vorkuta over mine accident

There were 26 people in the accident zone, 18 of them were killed, three were rescued and taken to hospital, the condition of one miner is very grave
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

VORKUTA-SYKTYVKAR, February 12 (Itar-Tass) – In connection with the Vorkutinskaya mine explosion, February 12, 13 and 14 have been declared mourning days in the Komi Republic. The corresponding decree was signed by the head of the region, Vyacheslav Gaiser, the press service of the republic’s head told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

The accident at the Vorkutinskaya mine occurred on February 11 at 10:28 MSK as a result of a methane explosion at a depth of 800 metres. According to specified data of the RF Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM), there were 26 people in the accident zone, 18 of them were killed, three were rescued and taken to hospital, the condition of one miner is very grave.

At the time of the explosion, the miners’ shift of 259 people was working underground. Five people escaped to the surface independently and the rest were evacuated.

Gaiser instructed the regional government, jointly with the municipality to take the necessary measures to provide assistance to the killed miners’ families.

Earlier, the head of the Komi Republic, the State Council and the government expressed their condolences over the death of miners.