“President Putin deeply condolences to the families of those miners who already understand that they died, and, of course, we hope that we will be able to save those who are down there underground,” the Kremlin spokesman said.
He added that Putin gave all the necessary instructions to the head of the region, Sergei Tsivilev, and the acting head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, Alexander Chupriyan, to organize all the necessary assistance for the victims and continue the rescue operation.
Chupriyan already flew to the place of emergency at the Listvyazhnaya mine with psychologists, medical specialists and a task force.
Oleg Gridnev, Deputy Minister of Health of Russia, is also sent to the Kemerovo Region.
According to the latest data, the death toll in an emergency at the Listvyazhnaya mine in Kuzbass has increased to 11.