VP OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO MINE BLAST VICTIMS' FAMILIES

Palembang, June 17 (ANTARA) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla here Wednesday offered his condolences to the families of the victims of Tuesday's Sawahlunto coal mine blast and asked the mine's operators to improve work safety procedures.

"My condolences go to the families of the victims of the explosion at the coal mine in Sawalunto, West Sumatra," the vice president said.

A big explosion at the coal mine on Tuesday killed at least 16 miners while more than 20 people were trapped in a pit tens of meters under the ground following the blast.

Rescue teams, assisted by personnel from the police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) unit had so far evacuated 16 bodies while tens of other miners were still underground and feared dead.

The team of Brimob from the West Sumatra police command came with equipment to help evacuate the trapped workers.

Fourteen workers outside the pit were also wounded as the blast threw up flames and debris over a distance of up to 50 meters through the pit's entrance.

The Brimob team had to assist the local rescue workers who knew the conditions in the pit that had many access channels.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the coal mine in Sawahlunto lay very deep under the ground and was exposed to greater risks than other mines in the district.

"The mine's safety procedures should be improved immediately," the vice president said.

He said the cause of the explosion was still unclear but he called for an overall evaluation of all deep mines currently in operation in the country.