A tragic workplace accident at a mining site in Buryatia, Russia, has claimed multiple lives, including a citizen of Kazakhstan.

The incident occurred at the “Irokinda” mine in the Muisky District, when a sudden snow avalanche struck a group of workers clearing a service road, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Nine people were working at the site at the time of the accident. Three managed to escape on their own, while others were trapped under the snow.

Rescue teams launched an immediate search operation and officials confirmed that the bodies of all six victims had been recovered. Among the deceased were Russian workers as well as one Kazakh national who had been employed at the site.

The cause of the avalanche and the circumstances surrounding safety conditions at the mine are now under investigation.