The death toll in Russia’s largest Raspadskaya coal mine blast reached 43, other 47 miners are reported missing. The bodies of 19 rescue workers, who had gone into the mine after the first explosion, were recovered. Overall 69 people are in hospitals, health state of two miners is esteemed as grave, RIA Novosti reports. According to the source, 311 kilometers of tunnels must be searched to find the missing people.

As reported previously, two powerful expositions shattered the Siberian Raspadskaya blast before midnight Saturday. 19 rescuers were among 83 people in the coal mine. The second more powerful explosion occurred about 3.5 hours later, after rescuers had entered the mine.

The mine owners will pay RUB 1m to the victims’ families, Polemika news agency reports. Besides, annual salaries and wages for the last three months will be paid to their families.

L.A.