At Least 13 Dead In Russian Mine Blast

28 October 2004 -- Russia's Emergencies Ministry says at least 13 miners were killed and another 23 were injured in an explosion today in a coal mine in Siberia.

A ministry spokesman says there were 240 people underground at the time of the blast at the Listvyanino mine in the Kemerovo region. It was n-o-t immediately clear what is their situation.

Authorities say nine teams of rescuers are at the site. Officials say the blast was apparently caused by a build-up of methane in the mine.

(Reuters/AFP/ITAR-TASS)