Mine blast rocks Russia’s Siberia

23 Jul, 2010 23:59 / Updated 14 years ago

A mine explosion has rocked Russian’s Kemerovo region in Siberia. One person is missing, and at least four have been taken to the hospital with burn injuries.

More than 60 people were underground in the Kransnogorskaya coal mine when the blast happened at 2 a.m. Moscow time. Fifty-four people have been rescued and over dozen made it to the surface themselves, local emergency ministry representatives said.

Six rescue teams are working at the scene. Preliminary information suggests a high concentration of methane gas caused the explosion.

In May twin blasts at the Raspadskaya coal mine in Kemerovo region, Russia’s biggest, claimed the lives of 67 miners.