Blast hits Russia's largest coal mine, at least 12 dead

Methane must be pumped out before rescue can resume to save 84 workers still trapped underground

MOSCOW - Two explosions tore through Russia's largest underground coal mine, killing at least 12 workers and injuring 41 others, an emergency services ministry official said on Sunday. A further 84 people remained trapped in the mine, including rescue workers.

Ministry spokeswoman Elena Chernova said on state news TV channel Rossiya-24 that rescue work had been suspended after the second blast, which happened early Sunday morning.