Authorities reported a fire at a coal mine in Russia’s Siberia killed nine people and wounded 44 others on Thursday, with dozens more trapped.
The fire broke out in southern Siberia’s Kemerovo area. According to Russia’s state-run Tass news agency, coal dust caught fire, and smoke swiftly flooded the mine through the ventilation system, quoting an anonymous emergency official.
At the time of the event, 285 individuals were within the mine, with 237 of them being evacuated. Efforts to save the rest are still underway, hindered by heavy smoke.
The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal investigation into the incident, alleging violations of safety laws that resulted in fatalities.
