MOSCOW, December 12 (RIA Novosti) - At least nine workers were killed and six others injured when an accidental explosion occurred at an open-cast mine in the Murmansk Region, three others are missing, a police source said on Friday.
The blast occurred on Thursday as workers were preparing to carry out a controlled explosion at the Rasvumchorrsky mine eight kilometers (4.9 miles) from the town of Kirovsk.
The source said "there was an accidental explosion," adding that three people were still unaccounted for.
Rescue workers are searching for the missing.
Three workers were hospitalized and another three received out patient treatment.
The cause of the blast is being investigated.
