Coal Mine Explosion Traps 19 In Slovakia

14 miners are missing and presumed dead after an underground coal mine exploded in northern Slovakia. The miners had been putting out a fire in the Handlova mine when it exploded, said the mine owner. The explosion occured in an unused section of the mine, and is thought to have been caused by the buildup of flammable gases left over from imperfect combustion. Six miners were succesfully rescued from the mine.

Emergency crews that arrived on the scene were faced with tough conditions of 70 degrees Celsius and zero visibility, but quickly reached an area about 100 meters from the epicenter of the blast.