SYKTYVKAR, January 15. /TASS/. All emergency work being carried out at the face of coal company Vorkutaugol’s Zapolyarnaya mine in Russia’s Komi Region has been suspended after groundwater broke through to partially flood the shaft, with one fatality among the mine workers reported while two others were brought safely to the surface, the coal company's press service reported.
"The workers of the Zapolyarnaya mine have been brought to the surface. At the moment, all work at the mine face is being suspended. A specially created commission, which will determine the causes of the incident, is at work at the enterprise," the report says.
According to the company, an unforeseen rupture of groundwater broke through the shaft walls at the Zapolyarnaya mine at 4:28 a.m. Moscow time (1:28 a.m. GMT). Three workers were located at the mine face at the time of the incident. "One victim with minor injuries was taken to the hospital; he is receiving medical care. The second victim was found without signs of life. The third worker had no injuries and came to the surface on his own," the company said.