Race to save 13 miners trapped 500ft underground in one of Russia’s biggest gold mines after giant rockfall – as rescuers describe hearing desperate banging on ventilation pipes

A desperate rescue attempt is underway to save the lives of 13 miners trapped 500 feet underground in one of Russia’s largest gold mines following a giant rockslide.

A state of emergency was declared in the Amur region after the collapse of the Pioneer mine.

Some 25 mountain rescuers from the Neryungri mountain rescue paramilitary section of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry were sent to the mine in the Zeya district.

They are trying to reach the minors, who could be up to fifteen according to the regional prosecutor’s office, through an air duct.

A Mi-8 helicopter is also stationed near the mine in case of emergency, the ministry said.

“There is little information so far,” said Igor Namakonov, head of the district’s Center for Civil Defense and Emergency Situations.

The trapped miners – or some of them – are alive and banging on a ventilation pipe to communicate with rescuers.

A distraught relative said: “They are banging on the pipe, using it to say they are alive.

“We pray to God that they are not flooded and that they have enough oxygen.”

Rescuers dug down to 300 feet, but miners could be trapped up to 500 feet underground.

The footage shows rescue efforts underway at the mine, located in the Amur region of eastern Siberia, which borders China to the south.

The “collapsed roof of the gold mine” is blocking any exit for workers who are up to 500 feet underground, according to reports.

Some 9,000 cubic meters of rubble collapsed, enough to fill more than three Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Rescuers had to remove a wall of fallen rocks approximately 65 feet high and 197 feet long.

“Communications have been restored and mechanized clearing of the transport slope is underway,” the ministry said.

Russian state investigators have opened a criminal case for violating safety rules at the mine, but officials did not immediately say what caused the accident.

Investigators have seized documents from mine managers and are currently interviewing witnesses to the rock collapse, according to reports.

All the minors are believed to be from other Russian regions.

The incident could be a blow to Vladimir Putin’s government amid increased reliance on gold during the war against Ukraine.