Rescuers searching for 4 in mine flooding

KEMEROVO, Russia, March 27 (UPI) -- Rescuers searched for four missing miners Wednesday after flooding at a coal mine in Russia's Kemerovo region, officials said.

The flooding was caused by construction work at the Osinnikovskaya coal mine while 143 miners were in the underground mine late Tuesday, local authorities said in a statement.

Rescuers reached 139 miners, three of whom had minor injuries, RIA Novosti reported. Whether the missing four miners were injured was unknown.

Kemerovo Region Gov. Aman Tuleyev has set a three-day deadline for local mining companies to conduct safety checks in response to the incident, the statement read.

The mine is owned by EvrazHolding, RIA Novosti reported.