UPDATE - Germany mine explosion injures at least two

UPDATES WITH MORE INFORMATION, POLICE STATEMENT

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) — An explosion in an offset mine pit in the East German town of Teutschenthal injured at least two people on Friday, local media reported.

Both victims -- one of them severely injured -- have been taken to a hospital, the daily Mitteldeutsche said, quoting an unidentified police spokeswoman as saying.

Some 35 workers were placed in an underground security area around 700 meters (2,300 feet) below the ground, the police spokeswoman added.

A large group of rescue workers rushed to the scene following an emergency call at 9.30 a.m. local time (0830GMT).

According to the mine company, around 100 people work in the Teutschenthal mine.

The mine was initially shut down in 1982 but later remodeled over the past 15 years.

Today, the mine is a 14-square kilometer (5.4 square miles) base area where mineral waste is dumped.