NOVOKUZNETSK / KEMEROVO, January 7 (RIA Novosti) - A miner was killed in a rock fall at a coalmine in southwestern Siberia’s Kemerovo Region on Monday, a spokesman for the local rescue service said.

A total of 74 miners were underground when the accident occurred, eight of them were working in the vicinity.

“One person was trapped by falling rocks. He was promptly pulled out. Unfortunately, he was already dead,” the spokesman said.

The Russian Investigative Department said the deceased miner was 21 years old.

The mine’s owner, Siberian Coal Energy Company (SUEK) refused to make any comments until an official probe into the accident is over.

Kemerovo Region Governor Aman Tuleyev ordered work safety probes to be held at all mines at the region following the deadly accident.