In February 2016, a series of explosions caused the deaths of 36 people, including 31 miners and five rescue workers, at the Severnaya coal mine 10 kilometres north of the city of Vorkuta, Komi Republic, Russia.

Efforts were hampered by Vorkuta's remote location within the Arctic Circle, the presence of methane gas within the mine, which workers feared would spark another explosion, and lack of communication with the trapped miners.

Plans were made to extinguish the fire by either starving it of oxygen or partially flooding the mine, following the termination of rescue attempts.

[9] At least three additional explosions have occurred in the mine between 28 February and 1 March following cessation of rescue efforts, with no reported injuries.

[13] According to the Russian News Agency TASS, all the rescue workers killed or injured would receive state awards.

[7] The recovered bodies were given funerals on 29 February, and the Komi Republic declared a three-day period of mourning for the losses.