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| Fears grow for Ukrainian miners | Fears grow for Ukrainian miners |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rescuers are fighting to save some 35 Ukrainian miners trapped deep underground after an explosion that killed at least 63 others. | |
| A massive rescue operation is underway, but a fire and damage to ventilation systems are hindering rescuers. | A massive rescue operation is underway, but a fire and damage to ventilation systems are hindering rescuers. |
| A mine union chief has played down the chances of finding many miners alive. | A mine union chief has played down the chances of finding many miners alive. |
| Sunday's 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. | Sunday's 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. |
| Hundreds of frantic relatives rushed to the mine in search of their loved ones after the explosion. | Hundreds of frantic relatives rushed to the mine in search of their loved ones after the explosion. |
| Rescue teams were still at work and the fire was localised, Ukrainian deputy prime minister Andrei Klyuyev told the Reuters news agency. | Rescue teams were still at work and the fire was localised, Ukrainian deputy prime minister Andrei Klyuyev told the Reuters news agency. |
| At least 360 of the more than 450 miners who were below ground when the explosion happened at 0300 (0100 GMT) have now been rescued, emergency officials said. | At least 360 of the more than 450 miners who were below ground when the explosion happened at 0300 (0100 GMT) have now been rescued, emergency officials said. |
| Some 28 of those rescued were taken to hospital, many suffering from methane inhalation. | Some 28 of those rescued were taken to hospital, many suffering from methane inhalation. |
| Ukraine's emergencies situations ministry says 65 people have died, and 35 are unaccounted for. | Ukraine's emergencies situations ministry says 65 people have died, and 35 are unaccounted for. |
| But the chances are small of finding many more of the miners alive, the head of the mine's trade union, Yuriy Zayats, said. | But the chances are small of finding many more of the miners alive, the head of the mine's trade union, Yuriy Zayats, said. |
| Cave-in | Cave-in |
| The country's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych travelled on Sunday to the scene of the accident, one of Ukraine's worst mining disasters in recent years. | The country's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych travelled on Sunday to the scene of the accident, one of Ukraine's worst mining disasters in recent years. |
| In pictures: Deadly blast | In pictures: Deadly blast |
| He told reporters there had been a cave-in at the accident site, and that fire and smoke were also obstructing rescuers. | He told reporters there had been a cave-in at the accident site, and that fire and smoke were also obstructing rescuers. |
| He also said a safety watchdog had reported that miners were working in accordance with regulations. | He also said a safety watchdog had reported that miners were working in accordance with regulations. |
| "This accident has proven once again that a human is powerless before the nature," Mr Yanukovych said, according to the Associated Press news agency. | "This accident has proven once again that a human is powerless before the nature," Mr Yanukovych said, according to the Associated Press news agency. |
| President Viktor Yushchenko, a longstanding rival of Yanukovych, announced plans to visit Donetsk on Monday. | President Viktor Yushchenko, a longstanding rival of Yanukovych, announced plans to visit Donetsk on Monday. |
| His office quoted him as saying that the government had "made insufficient efforts to reorganise the mining sector, particularly the implementation of safe mining practices," Reuters reported. | His office quoted him as saying that the government had "made insufficient efforts to reorganise the mining sector, particularly the implementation of safe mining practices," Reuters reported. |
| An investigation into the blast is under way. | An investigation into the blast is under way. |
| Poor record | Poor record |
| As fears grew, relatives gathered at the mine entrance trying to find news of their men. | As fears grew, relatives gathered at the mine entrance trying to find news of their men. |
| "I've come here to collect my grandson," one woman told Reuters. | "I've come here to collect my grandson," one woman told Reuters. |
| "I accompanied him to work yesterday. Now I want to take him home." | "I accompanied him to work yesterday. Now I want to take him home." |
| An official read aloud the surnames of those confirmed dead, to the anguished cries of relatives. | An official read 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. |
| 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. |
| Ukraine's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with a high number of fatal accidents. | Ukraine's coal mines are among the most dangerous in the world, with a high number of fatal accidents. |
| Miners' pay varies according to the volume of coal produced, giving them an incentive to ignore safety procedures that would slow production, one 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, one union official said. |
| Anatoly Akimochkin told AFP most disasters were caused by concentrations of methane, which can occur suddenly. | Anatoly Akimochkin told AFP most disasters were caused by concentrations of methane, which can occur suddenly. |
| 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 a gas leak at the Zasyadko coal mine, one of Ukraine's largest, killed 13 miners and injured dozens more. |
| Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? We would like to hear from you. | Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? We would like to hear from you. |