Mining engineer Ian Robertson was among the 108 killed by a methane gas explosion

It has emerged that the British man killed in a Siberian mine explosion was an employee of White Young Green International.

Mining engineer Ian Robertson was visiting the mine in Ulyanovskaya, Siberia to examine a monitoring system, when methane gas caused an explosion 270m beneath the ground.

The explosion killed 108 people, making it the worst mining disaster to hit Russia in more than a decade.

Richardson was carrying out a survey of reserves and operation systems on behalf of WYG client Yuzhkuzbassugol Coal Company. He was not expected home for a further month. He had been employed by IMC Consulting, which was purchased by WYG in 2004, for fifteen years.

WYG International managing director Cyril Davies said: “The company’s thoughts are with Ian’s family at this tragic time, and we have offered them our full support.”

He is survived by wife Andrea, and three children Alex, Eleanor and Ruth.

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