Wednesday, February 9 2005 19:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Moscow: At least 17 people were killed and nine went missing when an explosion ripped through a coal mine in South Siberia today (Feb 9, 2005), the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said.

The blast, triggered by a methane gas leak, occurred at the Yesaulskaya mine in the Kemerovo region, about 3,000 kilometres east of Moscow, a Ministry spokesman said.

Methane leakage was reported in the mine last night and miners along with rescue workers were trying to rectify the problem when the explosion took place at 1:00 p.m. local time (11:30 IST).

"Rescuers have found 17 bodies since the beginning of rescue efforts," the spokesman told Interfax news agency.

Among those killed were six rescue workers.

Four miners were hospitalised with brain injuries and carbon-monoxide poisoning.

Thirty people were inside when the explosion occurred, the report said adding the rescue works were hampered by successive blasts.

Accidents are common in the Russian coal mines with old equipment and violation of safety norms. A methane blast had killed 47 miners in Kuzbass last April.