The death toll from a Russian coal mine accident has reached 52, with 38 people still missing. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry today said the rescue operation to locate and recover the missing people is being carried out round the clock. Emergency Situation Minister Sergei Shoigu said more than 700 rescue workers are now combing numerous underground tunnels of the mine, and the plan is to complete the operation within the next 24 hours. He was speaking at a special meeting at the rescue headquarters in Kemerovo region, which was also attended by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who traveled to the region today. The gas explosion in the Raspadskaya mine occurred on Saturday when 359 people were working at the time. Almost 300 people were evacuated shortly after the explosion. More than 50 rescue workers had gone into the mine to recover the rest of the victims when a second gas explosion rocked the structure about four-and-a-half hours later causing more fatalities and destruction.