Ukraine: 33 dead, 70 missing in mine blast
A methane blast ripped through a coal mine in eastern Ukraine early today, killing more than 30 miners and leaving about 70 others missing, emergency officials said.
The explosion occurred at the Zasyadka mine in the Donetsk region at a depth of more than 1,000m (3,280ft) at around 3am (1am Irish time), the Emergency Situations Ministry said.
Rescue workers have found 33 bodies, said Oleksandr Soldatov, a spokesman for the ministry’s regional branch.
The ministry’s chief spokesman, Ihor Krol, said rescuers had not yet established contact with another 70 miners missing throughout the sprawling mine. Authorities evacuated 359 miners, and 19 were hospitalised, he said.
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych was heading to the site, Krol said.
The Donetsk region is about 400 miles south-east of the capital, Kiev.
Ukrainian mines are among the world’s most dangerous because of the high number of fatal accidents. The mines are deep, use out-of-date equipment and maintain poor safety standards.
