Fears for nine men trapped in Russian salt mine

Moscow: Nine miners in Russia are trapped after a fire broke out in a mine near the Ural Mountains.

Russian officials say the fire erupted when 17 workers were inside the mine in Solikamsk, in the Perm region, about 1200 kilometres east of Moscow.

Eight were evacuated.

The mine is owned by Russian company Uralkali and produces potassium-rich salt potash.

Uralkali said the trapped workers were employees of a subcontractor doing maintenance work.

The subcontractor's chief Andrei Maksimov told the Interfax news agency the chances of finding the trapped miners alive were slim.

Rescue teams have been unable to reach the area where the workers are because of heavy smoke.

AP

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