Rescue works were suspended in the West Siberian mine after the second blast, the region's governor told journalists on Sunday.
Four hours after an explosion killed at least eight people and injured 24 in the Raspadskaya mine at 8:55 p.m. Moscow time (16:55 GMT), another blast rocked the West Siberian facility.
Aman Tuleyev said that after the second blast contact was lost with 20 rescuers who were working in the mine.
"The operation was suspended amid fears of more explosions... It is simply dangerous to take more people down there," he said.
Law-enforcers, who are currently working at the site of the accident, earlier said that of the nine rescue teams only six returned back to surface. The remaining three units currently remain unaccounted for.
According to previous reports, 64 miners remain trapped underground.
An eyewitness told RIA Novosti that the second blast broke windows in several buildings and caused several structures to partially collapse.
The most serious damage was paid to a four-storey building where the main entrance to the mine was located. It was leveled to the ground almost completely, he said.
A miner, who worked in Raspadskaya for over 15 years, told RIA Novosti that the second explosion took place about half an hour after the first one and was so powerful that it knocked people on the surface off their feet.
KEMEROVO, May 9 (RIA Novosti)
