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6 injured in coal mine blast in E. Ukraine

Xinhua, August 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least six miners were injured when methane exploded 815 meters below the surface in a coal mine in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, authorities said on Friday.

The National Police said in a statement that the explosion took place at about 7:30 p.m. local time (1630 GMT) Thursday at the Pokrovske mine, when 246 miners were working underground.

All workers were rescued from the mine following the blast, the police said.

Meanwhile, Mykhailo Volynets, the head of Ukrainian Independent Union of Miners, wrote on his Facebook page that the blast has caused a massive fire and a series of new explosions, which continued into Friday.

The rescue operation in the mine continues, Volynets said, adding that five of six injured miners suffered burns to 50-60 percent of their bodies.

According to the preliminary police report, the blast was caused by the violation of safety rules. Further investigation into the accident is underway.

Ukraine's mines are considered among the world's most dangerous due to high levels of methane gas, outdated equipment and lax safety regulations. In March 2015, 34 workers were killed in a methane explosion at Zasyadko mine in Donetsk region. Endit