Two Dead, Nine Rescued In Avalanches In Russia's Far East

At least two people have died and nine have been rescued after being buried by a series of avalanches in Russia's Far East Khabarovsk region, Russian state media report.

Rescuers found the last missing person under the snow, state-run TASS news agency reported. "He is in critical condition, but he is alive," the agency quoted a representative of the Mnogovershinnoye gold-mining company as saying.

The victims were employees of the company.

"Several avalanches struck the settlement of Mnogovershinny. We think that 11 people are buried under the snow," the administration told TASS earlier on December 29.

Ten people had been trapped under the snow and one in a barrack. One had been found dead and another victim died later at a first-aid station.

The condition of the other victims was satisfactory, TASS reported.

Reports said several of those trapped were members of a crew sent to rescue a person buried by the first of the avalanches before they, too, were trapped.

The avalanche struck a station belonging to a gold-mining company, TASS said.

"A group of 10 rescuers went there. It was a rescue group of the gold-mining company. Another avalanche came down, burying them under the snow," local officials were quoted as saying.

Officials said medical crews had been sent to the scene and that the injured were being evacuated to a local hospital.

Based on reporting by TASS and dpa