32 killed in E. Ukraine coal mine blast
Xinhua, March 5, 2015 Adjust font size:
Thirty-two miners were killed and another was missing in early Wednesday's methane gas explosion at the Zasyadko mine in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, authorities said Thursday.
The bodies of 14 miners had been retrieved from the mine, while 18 remained underground, the Donetsk regional administration said in a statement.
Besides, 16 miners were severely wounded in the blast, which occurred 1,200 meters underground at around 5:30 a.m. local time (0330 GMT) Wednesday, added the statement.
Mykhailo Volynets, head of Ukrainian Independent Union of Miners, put the death toll in the disaster at 33.
"The rescuers have found the bodies of 32 miners and are searching for another miner. But given the conditions in the mine he has no chance to survive," Volynets told Xinhua.
A total of 230 miners were working underground at the mine, one of Ukraine's largest, when the explosion occurred.
The authorities said the blast was caused by methane gas explosion and is not linked to the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The mine, situated in the outskirts of the conflict-torn Donetsk city, is controlled by the insurgents who seek independence from Kiev.
The Zasyadko mine is dangerous for its high methane content and has a long history of tragic accidents.
A gas leak at the Zasyadko mine in July 2002 killed 20 miners, while a blast claimed 13 lives in September 2006.
On Nov. 18, 2007, in the worst mining accident in Ukraine's modern history, a total of 101 miners were killed after a methane explosion at the Zasyadko mine. Endi