Russian coal mine accident kills 36, including 5 rescuers

MOSCOW — Russian officials say a total of 36 people are believed to have died at a coal mine where a methane gas leak triggered three explosions and the collapse of the mine.

The Russian emergency services say the dead include five rescue workers and a mine worker who were killed when the third explosion rocked the Vorkutaugol mine in Russia’s far north Komi region early Sunday.

The first two explosions struck on Thursday, killing four miners and trapping 26 others. Mine director Denis Paikin said on Sunday that given the level of gas in the mine and the trajectory of the fire, which continues to rage, all of the missing miners are presumed dead.

At the time of the blast, 110 miners were underground and 80 were rescued. TVJ