AFTER TWO explosions rocked the Raspadskaya mine, the largest Russian underground coal mine, rescue workers are fast working to save the lives of the 83 people still trapped in the mine. The two explosions believed to be caused by a high buildup of methane have killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more. The first blast had taken place on Saturday midnight, while the second, more powerful occurred on SUnday.

The first rescue team, which had been sent in to retrive those five workers whose location had been pinpointed, could go in only by early Monday, according to Emergency Ministry spokesperson Valery Korchagin. After the second explosion destroyed the main ventilation shaft and all above ground structures of the mine, a large buildup of methane inside the Siberian mine prevented rescuers from going in.

The 500 rescue and emergency workers on the site, have been trying to ventilate the mine through Sunday and rebuild shafts, so that a team could be sent in to locate the trapped workers. There is no news on whether those trapped were alive.

Emergency Minister Sergei Shoigu, who had flown to the site to take take charge said,"Now we have to do everything possible to avoid a third explosion." He also asked emergency workers to identify two areas where the trapped workers were most likely to be, so that when the situation was right, rescue teams could be sent to these spots first.

When the first explosion occurred at the Raspaddskaya mine, just before midnight, an estimated 359 workers were in the mine, below ground. 58 people were injured in that explosion and most had managed to get out. However, by the time of the blast on Sunday, which took place three and a half hours later, 64 miners and 19 rescue workers were trapped underground, according to Sergei Shoigu. Communication with these trapped workers was also lost.

Russian premier Vladamir Putin said, "It's clear the situation is difficult. We could even say very difficult, tragic. Dozens of people remain in the mine. ... Their fate is unknown. And the saddest thing is that additional rescuers cannot be sent into the mine right away."