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| Rescue attempts at Siberia mine | Rescue attempts at Siberia mine |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Attempts to rescue four Russian coal miners trapped underground are continuing, after an explosion killed 106 people at a Siberian pit on Monday. | |
| Some 93 people were rescued from the mine, which was devastated by a methane explosion. | |
| It was one of the worst disasters in a decade in Russia's mining industry, which has a notorious safety record. | It was one of the worst disasters in a decade in Russia's mining industry, which has a notorious safety record. |
| However, the mine in question was only built a few years ago and had just had a new safety system installed. | However, the mine in question was only built a few years ago and had just had a new safety system installed. |
| The disaster occurred at 1030 Moscow time (0730 GMT) on Monday at the Ulyanovskaya mine in Kemerovo region, nearly 3,000km (1,850 miles) east of Moscow. | The disaster occurred at 1030 Moscow time (0730 GMT) on Monday at the Ulyanovskaya mine in Kemerovo region, nearly 3,000km (1,850 miles) east of Moscow. |
| Obstacles | Obstacles |
| The governor of Kemerovo province, Aman Tuleyev, said 20 members of the mine's management team were among the dead, including the facility's chief engineer and chief mechanic. | |
| "Today we were to launch at this mine an English system to ensure the secure mine work underground," he said. | |
| It is thought a British citizen was among those killed in the accident, but he has not been named. | |
| The blast occurred at a depth of about 270m (885 feet). | |
| Rescue workers were finding their job complicated by smoke, pockets of gas and collapsed roofs. | Rescue workers were finding their job complicated by smoke, pockets of gas and collapsed roofs. |
| "Unfortunately, the conditions are very difficult," said a spokesman for the emergency situations ministry. | "Unfortunately, the conditions are very difficult," said a spokesman for the emergency situations ministry. |
| There were thought to be about 200 miners working in the mine when the methane exploded. | There were thought to be about 200 miners working in the mine when the methane exploded. |
| There were conflicting reports as to whether the rescue teams had managed to make contact with any of the missing miners. | There were conflicting reports as to whether the rescue teams had managed to make contact with any of the missing miners. |
| "We just hope that they are alive," said one miner taking part in the rescue operation, his face caked with coal dust. | "We just hope that they are alive," said one miner taking part in the rescue operation, his face caked with coal dust. |
| Many of Russia's mines have poor safety standards and have not been updated since the fall of communism. | Many of Russia's mines have poor safety standards and have not been updated since the fall of communism. |
| A methane blast at a Kemerovo coal mine killed 21 miners in 2005. | A methane blast at a Kemerovo coal mine killed 21 miners in 2005. |
| But the Ulyanovskaya mine was opened only four-and-a-half years ago and Governor Tuleyev said the mine was fitted with modern equipment. | But the Ulyanovskaya mine was opened only four-and-a-half years ago and Governor Tuleyev said the mine was fitted with modern equipment. |
| Emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu has been ordered to the area by President Vladimir Putin to oversee the rescue operation, Russian news agencies said. | Emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu has been ordered to the area by President Vladimir Putin to oversee the rescue operation, Russian news agencies said. |
| Are you in the area? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. |
| Click here for more information on how to send your pictures | Click here for more information on how to send your pictures |