A total of nine people were killed in a recent mine blast near the Urals city of Nizhny Tagil, Russia's Vesti television said on Thursday, citing local police.

Local emergencies services earlier reported eight bodies were found and one person was considered missing after the blast at the Yevstyuninskaya mine on Wednesday.

A total of 123 workers were in the mine when the blast occurred and 114 were evacuated safely.

Police opened a criminal investigation into the accident citing safety violations during the transportation of explosives. The mine's operation is temporary suspended.

This was the second incident at the mine this year. In late January, about 15 workers were hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning.

MOSCOW, December 24 (RIA Novosti)