Russian mine blast toll hits 60

Rescuers struggling through the blast-shattered corridors of a Siberian coal mine have nearly reached the last area where any of 30 missing miners could still be found after two explosions, the emergency ministry said today.

The death toll has risen to 60, and little time remains for the potential rescue of anyone still alive three days after the blasts shook Raspadskaya, Russia’s largest underground coal mine.

Emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu told reporters: “We’ve got a day to bring out miners, if they’re there.”

Mr Shoigu said that concentrations of volatile methane in areas of the mine are as much as three times higher than the amount considered safe and that full ventilation to the mine would not be restored for at least another day.