At Least 36 Killed in Siberian Coal Mine Blast

A methane explosion in a Siberian coal mine killed at least 36 people today,  just 25 miles from the mine—operated by the same company—where 110 people died from a blast in March. Inspectors had attempted twice to shut down the mine for safety violations, but were rebuffed by local courts.

In the Russian coal mining industry—which employs 250,000—miners are awarded bonuses based on output, which sometimes encourages them to cut corners on safety, Reuters notes. The previous, larger, mine disaster prompted a government inquiry into mining safety, which found serious problems. (More Siberia stories.)