Federal authorities in Russia are accelerating efforts to find survivors from the Listvyazhnaya coal mine in Siberia following the explosion that killed 52 people.
The regional government of the Kemerovo Oblast region said authorities are "monitoring the situation, pumping out water," as well as continuing to "search and locate miners."
Authorities suspended full rescue efforts on 25 November after the environment was considered too dangerous. Current efforts are focused on clearing the traces of chemical gases so the resuce can resume.
As of 18:24 local time, three drilling rigs were working "around the clock" to "create a safe environment for the continuation of the search operation."
Sergei Tsivilev, the regional governor of Kemerovo Oblast, said: "The work continues. I will be here until we finish the search and rescue work."
On 26 December, Tsivilev explained that 257,000 cubic meters of the mine site would be isolated and filled with methane to stop another explosion.
A previous update on 28 November said 6 kilometres of tunnels were yet to be cleared, after which a decision will be made on the rescue operation.
"The most challenging areas will be lava and mining," the regional government said.
"The work is complicated by the long-distance, as well as the presence of methane and carbon monoxide in the mine."
