SEARCH crews blasted through solid rock to rescue 11 of 13 coal miners who emerged covered in soot yesterday after six days trapped in a deep shaft in southern Russia.

Eleven of 13 coal miners who were trapped in a deep shaft in southern Russia for six days were found alive today.

Emergency workers stopped the flow of water into a flooded mine in southern Russia where 13 miners have been trapped for five days, officials said, as drillers came within yards of the men’s presumed location.

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.