Open fire extinguished at Raspadskaya's Alardinskaya coal mine in Russia's Kemerovo region

KEMEROVO. May 7 (Interfax) - An open fire has been extinguished at the Alardinskaya coal mine operated by the Raspadskaya Group in Russia's Kemerovo region, where workers were evacuated on Thursday due to heightened carbon monoxide levels, the press service of the regional Emergency Situations Ministry's Main Directorate said.

"Novokuznetsk mine rescue brigades extinguished the open fire," it said.

It said 77 firefighters and 10 fire engines were involved.

It was previously reported that carbon monoxide levels exceeded permissible limits at the mine. All mine workers were brought to the surface.

The Kemerovo Region Coal Ministry told Interfax that a cable products had caught fire, and mine rescuers started dousing the site with water.

The regional prosecutor's office also reported a cable fire. It opened an investigation into the incident at Alardinskaya. The regional Investigative Committee also launched a pre-investigation check under Article 217 of the Russian Criminal Code (violation of industrial safety requirements at hazardous production facilities).

The Emergency Situations Ministry's Main Directorate said the mine had suspended coal production.