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Deadly explosion in Slovakia mine | Deadly explosion in Slovakia mine |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Six miners are dead and hopes are fading for 14 others after an explosion at a coal pit in Slovakia. | |
Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek said the other 14 missing miners had been trapped underground for more than 10 hours and were probably dead. | |
The blast occurred at Handlova, 200km (125 miles) north-east of the capital, Bratislava. Prime Minister Robert Fico said it was "an immense tragedy". | The blast occurred at Handlova, 200km (125 miles) north-east of the capital, Bratislava. Prime Minister Robert Fico said it was "an immense tragedy". |
A build-up of flammable gases caused the explosion, officials said. | |
Rescue teams found six dead bodies after battling high temperatures and poor visibility to try to reach the site, which is about 330m (1,000ft) underground. | |
The economy minister said: "The rescuers found six bodies 65 metres (71 yards) from the epicentre of the explosion. They couldn't get any further as the conditions in the mine do not support life. | |
"All victims probably died at the moment of explosion," he added. | |
The prime minister said late on Monday at the site of accident that the government would meet on Tuesday to declare a period of national mourning. |