The blast occurred at a reserve pumping station at the Elga coal deposit, and the regional prosecutor's office said it took place during welding work.
Four people died, according to the television channels REN TV and 112. According to 112, the workers were aged 20, 22, 38 and 49.
The company Elgaugol told Interfax that the station was operated by a contractor. According to the company's preliminary information, the incident may have been caused by a loss of pressure in the pumping station's water tank.
The Telegram channel 112 claims the welding work was carried out next to a methane container, which exploded. There is no confirmation of that version.
The regional office of the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under an article on violation of safety rules during construction and other work that caused the death of two or more people through negligence.
The Elga deposit is located 415 kilometers from Neryungri. About 10,000 people work there. In 2024, Elgaugol announced plans to double the enterprise's staff.
Accounts differ: the prosecutor's office confirmed the deaths without specifying the number, while REN TV and 112 reported four dead. There is no official confirmation of the death toll. The prosecutor's office describes the cause of the explosion as a violation of safety rules during welding work, Elgaugol as a possible loss of pressure in a water tank, and 112 as the explosion of a methane container.