Nine dead in Russian coal mine blast: ministry

Moscow: The bodies of nine miners have been found by rescue workers after a blast tore through a mine in the Komi region in Russia's Far North on Monday, an emergencies ministry spokeswoman said.

"Nine people are dead," Elena Smirnykh told AFP. The ministry had said earlier nine miners were feared trapped after the explosion at the Vorkutinskaya mine controlled by Russian steel-making giant Severstal.