UPDATE: Evraz suspends Yesaulskaya coal mine over rock slide

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KEMEROVO, Dec 21 (PRIME) -- U.K.-based mining giant Evraz, which operates mainly in Russia, has temporarily suspended operation of the Yesaulskaya coal mine in the Kemerovo Region due to a recent rock slide, the Energy Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

The rock slide occurred in a blind ventilation drift on Wednesday, and 97 out of 100 miners evacuated to the surface. Three miners were blocked.

“A rock slide with an area of 15 square meters occurred at the Yesaulskaya mine. Preliminary information provided no data on casualties or injuries. Four paramilitary mine rescue squads are working at the accident site. The mine’s work on coal production has been suspended. Phone line, ventilation and power supply of the mine were not damaged,” the ministry said.

A representative of the regional branch of the Emergency Ministry said that rescue squads had drilled three wells to deliver water, food, and blankets to the blocked miners. The rescuers were drilling a 13-meter rescue well through which they plan to evacuate the trapped miners, the person said.

The region’s branch of the Investigative Committee said in a statement that it was working to discover all circumstances of the accident and was carrying out a pre-investigation check at the mine.

Yuzhkuzbassugol of Evraz group owns the Yesaulskaya mine. The mine’s reserves stand at 14 million tonnes of coal.

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