Nine bodies found after Slovakia mine blast

Nine bodies have been recovered from a Slovak coal mine following a fire and explosion, and 11 other people are also believed to have died, authorities said today.

Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek said rescue workers initially found six bodies in the Handlova mine in central Slovakia. Mine director Peter Cicmanec said a further three bodies were later found as rescue units, engineers and medics battled high temperatures to reach the scene.