Russian rescuers today used their hands to dig though the rubble of a Siberian mine shaft as hopes dwindled of finding any more survivors of a methane blast that killed at least 40 coal miners and left seven others missing.

An apparent methane blast ripped through a coal mine in Siberia early today, killing 22 miners and trapping at least 25 others underground, officials said.

An apparent methane blast ripped through a coal mine in Siberia early this morning, killing at least eight miners and trapping dozens more underground, Russian officials said.