No fatalities were reported but more than 220 miners were evacuated from a coal mine in southern Russia after a smoke incident.
The event occurred 2 April, underground at the Obukhovskaya operation near Zverevo in the Rostov region. Workers were at a depth of about 200 meters (650 feet).
While the operator has not commented on the incident in the time since, emergency personnel did tell local media the following day that the smoke occurred at a substation of the coal mine but caused no open fire. A ventilation system was activated, the TASS news agency reported.
According to sources of the Eastern Herald, including the governor of the Rostov region Vasily Golubev, 21 mountain rescuers and four equipment units assisted at the scene of the incident.
It was reportedly the second incident to occur there in a week; on 27 March, the mine suffered a rock collapse, killing one miner and injuring two.
Obukhovskaya, considered one of the most important mines in the region, is managed by Obukhovskaya Mine Administration JSC per the Standard. JSC shares are owned by Cypriot offshore Valleyton Investments.
Sources: Reuters, Eastern Herald, and POST Online Media