2 dead and 22 missing after Russian mine explosion

Rescue workers at a Russian coal mine are trying to save twenty-five miners who are trapped underground after an explosion.

Two miners are known to have died in the blast at the mine at Vorkuta in the Arctic north.

Officials said twenty-two others had been brought to the surface but a fire was preventing rescuers reaching those trapped underground.

It is not know why the explosion happened, but officials suspect it was caused by methane.

It's the latest ina series of explosions and fires at Russian mines, many of which have been blamed on outdated equipment.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service