The Russian Government
The rescue operation at the “Raspadskaya” mine in the Kemerovo Region continues, though there are some serious problems. “This is a very serious accident, we have never had an accident with so much distruction,” stressed Sergey Shoigu.
There are 58 miners under the ground. “Rescue works continue,” said the Head EMERCOM of Russia, who is managing the search-and-rescue operation at the emergency site.
“Unfortunately, theworks are being complicated. There are fewer hopes to find alive people,” said the Minister. “However, we continue working. The rescuers and specialists of the Rostekhnadzor are constantly monitoring the coal mines, the specialists of the Ministry of Energy are also involved in order to repair the energy systems, the power at all the bores was restored, the main ventilation systems are ready to start”, said the Minister.
The Head EMERCOM of Russia also reported that “the gas environment and the air state in the mines have also been adjusted.” “The difficulties we had as a result of pumping in the low levels of the mine made us activate our work,” he said. According to him, the rescuers “put and hang the respirators along the mine to have some air for the way back to the surface.” There are still two problematic areas of work. “There were six miners in one of them and four in the other, we hope to examine these areas in the nearest future,” stressed the Minister, adding that no injured or victims had been found there so far.
The work on the distant areas of the mine is also going on. The mine rescuers have to examine the tunnel of the “Raspadskaya” mine, it is necessary to examine 311 km, where people can be found. The ventilation system at the “Raspadskaya” mine in the Kemerovo Region has practically been restored; it will be switched on according to the separate plan.
Shoigu explained that with the ventilation startup there is a great increase of negative consequences in the mine. “In this case we will have to evacuate people (for the period of ventilation startup),” said Shoigu.
Therefore, it is important to finish everything which is possible to do now. “As soon as we do this, the plan on ventilation start up will be switched on,” said the Minister. “We are ready to reach the before-accident level of air delivery,” he noted.
At present, the groups of mine rescuers have been sent to all the areas. They are entering from the right and from the left. Unfortunately, the central shaft is destroyed, there is no cage inside. Shoigu noted that present situation in the mine allows the rescuers to work in respirators. “Everything possible is being done now. Additional groups of rescuers have arrived. There is enough of forces and facilities,” he reported.
