Death Toll From Russian Mine Explosions Rises To 66

Rescuers carry the body of a miner killed in an explosion at the Raspadskaya coal mine.

The death toll from twin methane gas explosions in a Siberian coal mine at the weekend has reached 66.

Emergency officials said six more bodies were recovered from the Raspadskaya mine overnight. A further 24 people remain unaccounted for.

More than 80 miners were injured in the accident in the mine in the Kemerovo region.

Search and rescue operations were suspended today due to the risk of explosion from the high methane levels still present in the mine.

compiled from agency reports