Four miners have died and six have received heavy injuries as a result of a methane explosion in Mindeli coal mine in Tkibuli this morning.
The MIA suggested the methane explosion caused a deformation in the walls inside the mine resulting in a ceiling collapse.
Three of six injured are currently being transported to Tbilisi since they need to be treated in a profiled clinic, according to the Ministry of Health and Labor.
"Mindeli mine has to be closed until modern standards of labor safety have been guaranteed,” Agenga,ge cited one of the leaders of the parliamentary majority, Archil Talakvadze, as saying.
The deputy ministers of Economy Giorgi Cherkezishvili and Genadi Arveladze have headed to Tkibuli with an emergency group and the head of the Technical and Construction Supervision Agency.
The employees of the mine will be given their monthly salary during the time the mine will be closed.
The mine will be closed until the investigation is over.
