Russian President Dmitry Medvedev demanded on Monday that rescue efforts continue after a coal mine blast in west Siberia killed at least 32, and left another 59 still unaccounted for.
Some 50 people were also injured when two explosions hit the mine, near the town of Mezhdurechensk in the Kemerovo Region, in the space of four hours late on Saturday and early on Sunday.
"All rescue operations will continue," Medvedev said during a videoconference in the president's Situation Room with key ministers and rescue workers.
The cause of the blasts has yet to be determined. An official from the Raspadsky Coal company that owns the mine said "methane levels were normal" in the mine.
"The situation is extremely difficult, but nonetheless all rescue operations will continue until we reach truth, define what exactly happened, and are assured that all possible measures by the rescue workers were used in this situation," Medvedev said.
At the time of the second explosion, there were 83 people inside the mine: 64 coal miners and 19 rescuers.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said earlier the state would pay one million rubles (just over $33,000) to the families of the deceased. He also said those people who suffered serious injuries would receive 400,000 rubles and people with less serious injuries 200,000 rubles.
Kemerovo Region governor Aman Tuleyev, who has taken charge of the rescue operation, said work was underway to provide housing and social benefits for the families of the dead.
GORKI (Moscow Region),May 10 (RIA Novosti)
