The Sverdlovsk Region investigating bodies of the Russia’s Investigative Committee continue investigating a criminal case in a crime under part 2 of article 216 of the RF Penal Code (breach of safety rules during mining, constructing or other kinds of operations entailing death of a person by negligence).
It has been reported earlier that in the morning of 17 January 2015, there was a detonation of explosives during preparing for explosive operations at the Yuzhnaya mine. Three workers were buried under the debris inside the mine, two more workers were taken to hospital.
The debris have been finished to be removed today. The search operation found that all three workers died – fragments of their bodies have already been extracted on the surface. The bodies were examined by investigators and sent for a forensic medical inquiry. In addition DNA tests will be fixed soon to identify the bodies based on matching their DNA with that taken from their relatives.
A 30-strong team of investigators continue working. Police officers and rescuers of the Russian Emergencies Ministry are working at the scene. The investigating team continue questioning the workers of the mine – both managers and rank-and-file workers. The documents related to preparing for explosive operations are being analyzed.
The results of initial investigation have shown that the possible reason for the explosion at the Yuzhnaya mine might have been accidental detonation of the explosives. The retrieved and confiscated material evidence will soon be sent for a forensic technical inquiry in order to find all the circumstances of the tragedy, including the exact cause of detonation.
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