The ventilation at the “Raspadskaya” mine was delayed for a day

“The ventilation system is ready for startup, however, it was decided to postpone it as the rescue operation is very intense and the gas atmosphere at the very deepest areas is becoming normal,” reported from the mine emergency operations center.

“The decision was made not to start up the ventilation system not to risk the lives of the mine rescuers, as in case of single smoldering fireplace, the stream of air can lead to an explosion,” said the emergency operations center representative. At present, there are 9 rescue subdivisions working under the ground. They are going into the mine on foot in order to find 30 more people who were working at the day of the accident. “The rescuers have to cover several km distance under the ground,” reported from the emergency operations center.

The rescue subdivisions managed to dismantle the building of the pithead during the day (they cut and took away 100 tones of metal structures), dismantled and took away 200 tones of metal of copra elements. Furthermore, the destroyed parts of the ventilation building and the air-ventilation chamber were cleared away, as well as the destroyed structures of the transport gallery.