Russia coal mine blast kills 18

In this photo taken Jan. 22, 2010 and released by Russia's Emergency Situations on the Emergency Ministry, Komi region branch internet site on Feb. 11, 2013, a general view of the Vorkutinskaya mine is seen. / AP

Moscow A blast at a coal mine in northern Russia on Monday killed 18 people, officials said Monday.

Rescuers have recovered 10 bodies at the Vorkutinskaya mine in Russia's Komi region, Vadim Kolesnikov, a duty officer at the Russian Interior Ministry, told the Associated Press.

There were 23 men in the mine at the time of the blast that happened because of the build-up of methane, the Emergency Situations Ministry said. Two of them were able to get out of the mine on their own and three were rescued.

Russian investigators opened a probe into suspected violation of safety rules at the mine, the Investigative Committee said in a statement.

Deadly accidents at coal mines are frequent in Russia because of negligence and recurrent violations of safety regulations. In January, nine people died in two separate mine accidents.