Four bodies have been found during search operations at a coal site in Russia’s Magadan region.

Axar.az reports that this was stated by the press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia in the Magadan region.

“On May 3, during search and rescue operations in the Susumansky urban district, the bodies of four people were discovered. According to preliminary information, up to eight more people may still be trapped under the debris,” the statement said.

It was also noted that search and rescue operations are continuing in a round-the-clock mode, with psychologists from EMERCOM working at the site and the enterprise pledging support to the families of the victims.

Earlier, Magadan Region Governor Sergey Nosov described the incident as a workplace accident, stating that a special commission had been set up to investigate the circumstances.

The head of the Kadikchansky coal site, Alexander Nesterovich, said the collapse was triggered by a mudflow (debris flow), and heavy equipment was promptly sent to the scene.