The blast happened at a depth of 800 meters. 22 miners were in the mine at the time of explosion, says deputy spokesperson Elena Smirnykh with the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) to Itar-Tass.
Four of them managed to get to the surface by their own and are taken to hospital. Ten was first confirmed dead, the number later on Monday was confirmed to be eighteen, reports RIA Novosti.
Vorkutinskaya mine is owned by Vorkuta-Urgol mining company, a division of Severstal, Russia’s largest steel producer.
Vorkuta is located in the northeastern corner of the Barents Region, just west of the Ural Mountains.
