Gold Mine Fire In Siberia Kills 12 Miners
Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter (AHN) - A gold mine fire in the Chita region of Siberia kills 12 miners and traps more than 20 others. The fire at Darasun mine broke out at a depth of 230 to 430 feet. Authorities say that while it has been contained, it is still burning. Miner Nikolai Bronnikov tells Russian TV, "It got smoky. Those of us who could - there was five of us - got out. The others are back in the mine." He adds, "Other guys used emergency exits and got to the surface. The remaining are still down there. My brother's there. I can't say any more." Smoke has prevented rescue work from going smoothly. Fifteen miners who survived the fire are being treated for smoke inhalation. Highland Gold Mining says the bodies of 12 miners have been recovered. Dmitry Yakushkin, the company's communication director, tells BBC News, "The main thing today and now is to save the people and finish off this rescue operation." Specialists are being flown to the mine, which is located 2,900 miles east of Moscow. Russian media reports that breathing devices should keep the trapped miners alive for several hours. Authorities are uncertain about what sparked the fire.
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