DUSHANBE, May 24, Asia-Plus – At least 16 miners were killed in a methane explosion in a coal mine in western Siberia Thursday morning and 21 people could be trapped underground, Russia''s emergencies ministry said.

The methane explosion at the Yubileinaya coal mine in the Kemerovo region, Russia''s largest coal producing area, occurred at 7.40 a.m. Moscow time (11.40 a.m. local time, 3.40 a.m. GMT), when 217 miners were working underground.

"180 miners have been brought to the surface... The fate of 21 miners is unclear," a ministry spokesperson said, adding the rescue operation was continuing.

The local administration earlier said five miners were injured, but the injuries were not thought to be life threatening.

The Yubileinaya mine is near the Ulyanovskaya mine where 110 miners were killed in a methane explosion March 19, which was Russia''s worst coal mining disaster in the last 75 years.

Both mines belong to Yuzhkuzbasugol, Russia''s largest underground mining company 50% owned by the second biggest steelmaker Evraz Group.