The devastating methane blast in the Listvyazhnaya mine, based in Kuzbass, in Russia's Kemerovo Oblast, took place on Thursday morning, news agencies have reported.
At the time of the accident, some 285 miners were underground, of whom 239 were eventually evacuated. The remaining 46 workers, along with six rescue personnel, died in what was the biggest coal-mine disaster in Russia in 11 years, Poland's PAP news agency reported, citing Russian news outlets.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Sunday took to Facebook to offer his sympathy, writing in Polish and Russian:
"I was saddened to hear about the tragedy in the Listvyazhnaya mine, in the Kemerovo region of the Russian Federation."
He added: "I offer my deep condolences to the families and friends of the victims, as well as to the whole Russian nation."
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP