Rockslide burying 3 miners in Komi caused by mine percussion

MOSCOW, July 17 (Itar-Tass) -- The rockslide that trapped three miners
in a coal mine in Russia's republic of Komi was caused by a mine
percussion, a spokesman for the republic emergencies administration told
Itar-Tass on Sunday.
"A rock bump caused rock failure in the Severnaya coal mine operated
by Vorkuta-Ugol Co. The depth of the rock fall is being specified. The
accident occurred during an interval between shifts," the spokesman said.
The accident was reported at 20:00 Moscow time on Saturday.
There were 73 miners inside the mine. "Seventy men were evacuated, and
according to preliminary data, three are blocked," the spokesman said.
Work at the mine has been suspended. The mine is ventilated.
Rescue operations involve 20 men.