Russian Miners Face ‘No Chance’ Situation With Third Explosion As Death Toll Increases [Updated]
Russian miners face “no chance,” life-threatening situations in Severnaya, Russia, after three explosions trapped them inside mines near the icy regions of the north.
According to CNN, this is a tragic continuation of the events which began on Thursday, February 25. Russian miners found themselves in an unfavorable position when two explosions occurred nearly half a mile down into the coal mines, causing collapses and fires, as reports the source.
Also, the source states that those incidents were caused by a methane gas leak, according to officials. When the mining incident happened, four Russian miners were killed, and 81 were able to escape the situation and make it to the surface. However, 26 Russian miners were left beneath and within the catastrophe.
On Sunday, February 28, authorities attempted to rescue the remaining Russian miners. However, the gesture only increased the death toll when a third explosion occurred within the collapsed coal mine.
CNN reports that the third blast killed five rescue workers and another miner in the attempt. The source noted that, “the blast occurred in the area where the miners were stuck. The high temperatures and lack of oxygen in that part of the mine meant that they had no chance of survival.” According to the source, the aforementioned statement came from Vladimir Puchkov, Russia’s Emergency Situations Minister.
[Update]
According to the Emergencies Ministry, none of the remaining miners survived the catastrophe. RT News reports that the agency said that the temperatures were just too much for the miners to endure, even so for the rescuers.
Emercom-Little to no chance of survival for 26 trapped miners in Vorkuta. Fires, lack of oxygen, high temperature. pic.twitter.com/3I5zRGSwW7
— Roman Kosarev (@Kosarev_RT) February 28, 2016
In regards to the Russian miners and the rescue mission, the news source reports as follows.
“Coalmine rescuers were operating at a normal safety distance, but the blast affected them even there, Tatiana Bushkova, spokesman for JSC Vorkutaugol, operator of the Severnaya coal mine, told TASS. ? hoisting engineer was killed by the explosion that spread across the workings, she added. He was supplying materials to the site of the rescue works.”
Other teams were involved in the critical situation as well. According to the news source, approximately 550 people had take part in the rescue mission, including “80 pieces of equipment.”
Unfortunately, the odds were against the Russian miners and the rescue teams from the beginning. The source also states that the mine’s site was just-above the Arctic Circle.
Moreover, there are still extremely high levels of methane gas leaking at the mine’s site. And it’s because of this fact that authorities believe that another mine blast is imminently on the horizon. However, the officials have a plan to help localize the possibility. Through a process of pumping nitrogen into the mine to counteract the other gases at work, the Emergencies Ministry intends to have the issue resolved within a day’s time.
Severstal owner Mordashov – 1.5 bln roubles ($20mln)annually spent on safety & security measures at Severnaya mine. pic.twitter.com/1oLoBATt39
— Roman Kosarev (@Kosarev_RT) February 28, 2016
After this, officials want to put the mine back into working status, resuming duties set to the particular region. Yet, it doesn’t come without the nation paying its respects, as reports RT News.
“Three days of mourning have been announced in the Komi Republic for the victims of the disaster. Cultural institutions, as well as radio and TV companies, have been recommended to cancel entertainment events and programs in the days of mourning, the government of the northern Russian republic has said in an order. Local government officials and the administration of the city of Vorkuta have been ordered to take all necessary measures to assist the families of the victims.”
What’s your stance on the Russian miners and the next potential blast? Do you think mining operations should resume so quickly? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
[Photo by Ministry of Emergency Situations/AP Images]
