[caption id="attachment_61939" align="aligncenter" width="522"] A general view of the Vorkutinskaya mine in Russia's northern Komi region is seen in this undated file photo provided by Russia's Emergency Ministry. An explosion at the Russian Vorkutinskaya coal mine on February 11, 2013 killed nine people and eight more were feared trapped under rubble at the pit in the northern Komi region, the Interior Ministry said. REUTERS/Russian Emergency Ministry/Handout (RUSSIA - Tags: DISASTER ENERGY) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - RTR3DMLM[/caption]Russian Mine Explosion Kills 18

An explosion at a Russian coal mine caused by methane gas has killed at least 18 miners, according to reports.

Disaster ministers have been dispatched to the scene of the Vorkutinskaya Mine in Northern Russia to help bring the bodies of the fatalities to the surface of the underground mine.

Although at least 250 employees had been in the mine at the time of the blast working about 2600 feet below the surface, the majority of miners either were rescued or escaped in time without injury.

So far, rescue crews have managed to bring 10 of the dead miners out of the mine and are working on retrieving the additional bodies.

According to Sky News, Five of those in the shaft were rescued - two received treatment at the scene and three were hospitalised.

Government officials promised a full investigation as to the cause of the explosion.

Many of the coal pits in the area north of Moscow suffer from age, inadequate safety measures and outright negligence. Each of the victim's families will receive at least $2 million roubles in financial compensation for their loss.

The mine belongs to a division of Severstal, one of Russia's largest steel producers.

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Methane blast kills 18 at Russia coal mine
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/11/us-russia-mine-idUSBRE91A05G20130211