Death toll in Indonesian mine blast rises to 26
13:40, 17 June 2009
JAKARTA. June 17. KAZINFORM. The death toll from a blast at a coal mine in Indonesia's West Sumatra province has climbed to 26, local media said on Wednesday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
The explosion of methane gas occurred on Tuesday at a mine in the Sawah Lunto district. Nine injured miners have been hospitalized and some 14 miners were still unaccounted for, health ministry crisis center head Rustam Pakaya said.
The bodies of the miners were found some 150 meters underground. There was little hope that the missing workers would be found, although a rescue operation is continuing; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.