By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Two explosions in a coal mine in southwestern Romania Saturday killed eight miners and four emergency workers, officials said.
Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said the explosion that killed the miners in the coal-rich Jiu Valley occurred Saturday afternoon at a depth of 250 meters.
Later, a second explosion killed the four rescue workers, said Ilie Paducel, mayor of the town of Petrila where the mine is located.
Hundreds of relatives gathered at the mine after the first explosion, Realitatea TV reported. Romanian President Traian Basescu said he would travel to the site later Saturday.
Mine officials said the explosions were believed to have been caused by an accumulation of methane gas. Officials have banned anyone from going down the mine for the next 48 hours.
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