Support The Moscow Times!

Komi Mine Blast Not Result of Natural Causes, Investigator Says

The Vorkutinskaya Mine www.mchs.gov.ru

The explosion that killed 19 miners at a coal mine in the Komi republic city of Vorkuta on Monday was not the result of natural causes, investigators said Friday.

Nikolai Basmanov, head of the Investigative Committee's branch in the Komi republic, said that there was no sign in the Vorkutinskaya mine of tectonic activity, which is often the cause of such underground explosions, Interfax reported.

"It is still not known exactly where the spark that caused the explosion came from. As a basic assumption, we are considering the human factor. The accident could also have been caused by improper use of equipment and serious violations of safety rules by one of the workers at the mine," he said.

The methane explosion, which happened at a depth of 800 meters, occurred on February 11.

The explosion was at least the second fatal accident at a Russian mine in the past month. On Jan. 20, methane exploded in a mine in the Kuzbass coal basin in western Siberia, killing four workers.

Accidents at mines and industrial facilities in Russia are not uncommon, due to frequently lax compliance with safety rules and deteriorating Soviet-era infrastructure.

Related articles:

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more