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Russian mine blast kills 9

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-12 14:51

MOSCOW - An explosion at a mine in northwest Russia overnight killed at least nine people and three were missing, the Emergencies Ministry said on Friday.

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"The reasons (for the blast) are being investigated," said Irina Gretskaya, spokeswoman for the ministry in the Arctic city of Murmansk.

"After the blast a fire occurred and there were 12 people in the mine. Nine are dead and three are missing," she said.

Russian news agencies reported the mine was operated by a company called Apatit, a major Russian producer of the phosphate mineral apatite used in making fertiliser. The company was part of the FosAgro fertiliser group, the agencies said.