Russian gold mine rescue suspended due to collapse risk

The miners were trapped by a rock fall on March 18 with Russia's emergencies ministry stating that the mine was probably flooded.

Emergency workers would study water deposits discovered at the bottom of four shafts, the ministry said in a statement posted on the Telegram app.

"This will allow us to establish a complete picture of the entire depth of the mine and make a decision on further work," it added.

Rescuers have been attempting to drill through several hundred metres of rock in an attempt to establish contact with the men and assess their condition.

Officials have opened an investigation for a suspected breach of safety rules. Lax safety measures have often led to deadly accidents in Russian mines and factories.