A Russian passenger jet crashed and another apparently broke up in the air almost simultaneously after they took off from the same airport, raising fears of a double terrorist atrocity.

Hope is fading in the bid to reach 13 miners that rescuers believe could still be alive three days after being trapped in a coal mine which continues to flood with water.

Rescue workers today began lifting to the surface 46 miners trapped underground in a flooded coal mine for nearly two days in southern Russia.

Rescue workers said today that all 46 miners trapped underground in a flooded mine shaft for nearly two days in southern Russia were alive. None of the miners were seriously injured.