Rescuers blast through rock to save 11 of 13 trapped miners

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.

One miner died underground and another remained missing, emergency officials said.

Rescuers reached the men yesterday morning after drillers punched through to the pit face where the miners had sought refuge following a flood. Entering the chamber, the rescuers found a note scrawled on a ventilation pipe, showing in which direction the miners had moved, NTV television reported.