Rescue teams at the Zapadnaya mine in the Rostov region also found the body of one miner, while the remaining worker remained missing and was feared dead.

Meanwhile at another mine thousands of kilometers (miles) away in the Russian Far Eastern region of Primorye, a powerful explosion believed to have been caused by methane gas killed five miners, local officials said.

The first of the miners rescued from the Zapadnaya pit -- faces blackened, wrapped in blankets -- walked out of the mine into the crisp sunshine and a jostling crowd of relatives, medical personnel and journalists.

Some smiled and made victory signs.

They were immediately put into ambulances and taken to the hospital.

Of the 11 found alive, two were said to be in serious condition, Russian television reported.

Rescue teams discovered the miners early Wednesday, hours after entering the tunnel where they had taken refuge after freezing water from an underground lake flooded Zapadnaya late Thursday afternoon.

The rescuers were led to the men after reading a message that they had scribbled on the wall of the main shaft, indicating where in the winding tunnels they planned to take refuge from the numbing water.

A total of 71 men were working at the mine at the time of the flooding at 1300 GMT Thursday. Twenty-five managed to scramble to the surface right away and 33 were lifted to the surface on Saturday.

Over four days, rescuers used drills to bore through an estimated 60 metres (190 feet) of coal and rock, while at the same time filling the main shaft with concrete blocks, metal rods and rock to try and stem the rising water.

The accident was the second at the mine this year. Water flooded the mine in February but there were no people underground at the time.