At least 33 dead in Ukrainian mine blast

Source: Reuters

At least 33 dead in Ukrainian mine blast
Sun Nov 18, 2007 11:20am EST

By Lina Kushch

DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - A methane explosion
ripped through a colliery in Ukraine's Donbass coalfield
on Sunday, killing at least 33 miners and leaving 67
missing in underground shafts engulfed by fire and
smoke.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich announced the
latest toll after flying to Donetsk, his native
region, to assess the latest of a string of accidents
in Donbass's outdated mines.

He said a fire burned unchecked more than 1,000
meters (3,300 feet) underground at the city's
Zasyadko pit.

"So far it has been established that 33 miners have
died. There are 67 more still underground. Their fate
is unknown," Yanukovich told reporters after attending
a meeting of a commission of inquiry into the accident.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL1840409320071118

63 killed in Ukraine mine blast By SERGEI CHUZAVKOV, Associated Press Writer
4 minutes ago



DONETSK, Ukraine - A methane blast ripped through a coal mine in eastern Ukraine early Sunday, killing at least 63 miners in the ex-Soviet nation's worst mining accident in years, emergency officials said.

More than 360 miners were rescued but 37 others remained trapped inside the mine — one of Ukraine's largest and deepest — with a raging fire hampering efforts to save them, officials said.

The explosion occurred around 3 a.m. more than 3,300 feet deep inside the Zasyadko mine in the regional capital Donetsk, the heart of the country's coal mining industry, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071118/ap_on_re_eu/ukraine_mine_explosion

Source: BBC News


Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7101084.stm