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| Dozens dead in Ukraine mine blast | Dozens dead in Ukraine mine blast |
| (4 days later) | |
| An explosion in a coal mine in Ukraine has killed at least 63 people and rescuers are trying to find at least 37 who are still missing, officials said. | An explosion in a coal mine in Ukraine has killed at least 63 people and rescuers are trying to find at least 37 who are still missing, officials said. |
| The blast, caused by a build-up of methane gas, occurred more than 1,000m (3,280ft) below ground in the Zasyadko mine in the eastern Donetsk region. | The blast, caused by a build-up of methane gas, occurred more than 1,000m (3,280ft) below ground in the Zasyadko mine in the eastern Donetsk region. |
| A massive rescue operation is under way, but fire and damage to ventilation systems are hampering rescuers. | A massive rescue operation is under way, but fire and damage to ventilation systems are hampering rescuers. |
| Hundreds of frantic relatives rushed to the mine in search of their loved ones. | Hundreds of frantic relatives rushed to the mine in search of their loved ones. |
| At least 350 of the more than 450 miners who were below ground when the explosion happened at 0300 (0100 GMT) have been rescued, emergency officials said. | At least 350 of the more than 450 miners who were below ground when the explosion happened at 0300 (0100 GMT) have been rescued, emergency officials said. |
| About 25 of those rescued have been taken to hospital, many suffering from methane inhalation. | About 25 of those rescued have been taken to hospital, many suffering from methane inhalation. |
| Ukraine's emergencies situations ministry says 63 bodies have been found. | Ukraine's emergencies situations ministry says 63 bodies have been found. |
| The chances of finding alive many more of those missing are "small", the head of the mine's trade union, Yuriy Zayats, said. | The chances of finding alive many more of those missing are "small", the head of the mine's trade union, Yuriy Zayats, said. |
| PM 'grieves' | PM 'grieves' |
| Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is at the scene of the accident, one of Ukraine's worst mining disasters in several years. | Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is at the scene of the accident, one of Ukraine's worst mining disasters in several years. |
| In pictures: Deadly blast | In pictures: Deadly blast |
| "I am grieving with all of Ukraine," he said in a statement, according to AFP news agency. | "I am grieving with all of Ukraine," he said in a statement, according to AFP news agency. |
| Earlier he told reporters there had been a cave-in at the accident site, and that fire and smoke were also obstructing rescuers. | Earlier he told reporters there had been a cave-in at the accident site, and that fire and smoke were also obstructing rescuers. |
| Miners' family members gathered at the mine entrance, trying to find news of their men. | Miners' family members gathered at the mine entrance, trying to find news of their men. |
| "I detest them, these mines," a middle-aged woman searching for a relative told AFP. | "I detest them, these mines," a middle-aged woman searching for a relative told AFP. |
| Periodically an official has been reading aloud the surnames of those confirmed dead, to the anguished cries of relatives. | Periodically an official has been reading aloud the surnames of those confirmed dead, to the anguished cries of relatives. |
| One miner, Vitali Kvitkovski, told the BBC that just before the explosion, he had checked his instruments and the methane levels seemed normal. | One miner, Vitali Kvitkovski, told the BBC that just before the explosion, he had checked his instruments and the methane levels seemed normal. |
| "I was walking to the coal layer. There was a bang, the temperature surged, and [there was] thick dust. You could see absolutely nothing," Mr Kvitkovski said. | "I was walking to the coal layer. There was a bang, the temperature surged, and [there was] thick dust. You could see absolutely nothing," Mr Kvitkovski said. |
| A criminal case has been opened into the accident, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office told news agency Itar-Tass. It said the Donetsk regional prosecutor was visiting the scene. | A criminal case has been opened into the accident, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office told news agency Itar-Tass. It said the Donetsk regional prosecutor was visiting the scene. |
| Three days of mourning have reportedly been declared by the head of the regional administration. | Three days of mourning have reportedly been declared by the head of the regional administration. |
| Safety 'ignored' | Safety 'ignored' |
| The country's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world with a high number of fatalities from accidents. | The country's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world with a high number of fatalities from accidents. |
| Miners' pay varies according to the volume of coal produced, giving them an incentive to ignore safety procedures that would slow production, a union official said. | Miners' pay varies according to the volume of coal produced, giving them an incentive to ignore safety procedures that would slow production, a union official said. |
| "Everyone tries not to pay attention to small problems in the safety equipment," Anatoly Akimochkin told AFP. | "Everyone tries not to pay attention to small problems in the safety equipment," Anatoly Akimochkin told AFP. |
| "The pay system is one of the biggest causes of our accidents." | "The pay system is one of the biggest causes of our accidents." |
| One miner was killed on Saturday in a cave-in at the Lenin mine, also in the Donetsk region. | 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. | A gas leak at the Zasyadko coal mine, one of Ukraine's largest, killed 13 miners and injured dozens more in September 2006. |
| Twenty miners were killed in an explosion at the same mine in 2002. | Twenty miners were killed in an explosion at the same mine in 2002. |
| And 80 people were killed in another explosion at the Barakova coal mine in Luhansk in 2000. | And 80 people were killed in another explosion at the Barakova coal mine in Luhansk in 2000. |