Death Toll Rises to 70 in Ukrainian Mine Blast, 30 Workers Still Missing

World | November 19, 2007, Monday // 00:00
Death Toll Rises to 70 in Ukrainian Mine Blast, 30 Workers Still Missing Rescue teams are still searching for some 30 Ukrainian miners trapped deep underground after the Sunday's explosion that killed at least 70 others. Photo by CNN

Rescue teams are still searching for some 30 Ukrainian miners trapped deep underground after the Sunday's explosion that killed at least 70 others, BBC reported.

The fires that are still burning in the mine shafts, hinder rescue efforts in the Zasyadko mine in the eastern Donetsk region.

Some 28 miners are now being treated in hospitals, many suffering from methane inhalation.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych travelled on Sunday to the scene of the accident.

He told reporters there had been a cave-in at the accident site, and that fire and smoke were also obstructing rescuers.

The blast, which has been caused by a build-up of methane gas, occurred more than 1,000m below ground in the Zasyadko mine in the eastern Donetsk region, while more than 450 people were working there.

Local authorities have now declared three days of mourning for the blast's victims.

An investigation into the blast is under way.

Ukraine's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world with a high number of fatalities from accidents.

One miner was killed on Saturday in a cave-in at the Lenin mine, also in the Donetsk region.

A gas leak at the Zasyadko coal mine, one of Ukraine's largest, killed 13 miners and injured dozens more in September 2006.

Another 80 people were killed in an explosion at the Barakova coal mine in Luhansk in 2000.

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