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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| 'No chance' for Ukrainian miners | 'No chance' for Ukrainian miners |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| There is no chance of finding survivors in the Zasyadko coal mine in Ukraine, a senior union official has said. | |
| Rescuers are still searching for over 20 miners trapped underground after the blast that killed more than 70 others. | Rescuers are still searching for over 20 miners trapped underground after the blast that killed more than 70 others. |
| But raging underground fires have thwarted rescue efforts in the 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 what was one of Ukraine's worst accidents in years. | Sunday's blast, caused by a build-up of methane gas, occurred more than 1,000m (3,280ft) below ground in what was one of Ukraine's worst accidents in years. |
| Hundreds of desperate relatives rushed to the mine after hearing the news. | Hundreds of desperate relatives rushed to the mine after hearing the news. |
| There was a bang, the temperature surged, and [there was] thick dust. You could see absolutely nothing Vitali KvitkovskiZasyadko miner | There was a bang, the temperature surged, and [there was] thick dust. You could see absolutely nothing Vitali KvitkovskiZasyadko miner |
| As grim-faced mine officials later emerged to announce the names of the victims, many in the crowd began weeping and several fainted. | As grim-faced mine officials later emerged to announce the names of the victims, many in the crowd began weeping and several fainted. |
| The head of the Ukrainian Free Miners' Union, Mykhailo Volynets, said it was now certain that all the missing men had died, says the BBC's Laura Sheeter, in Kiev. | |
| Local authorities have declared three days of mourning for the blast's victims. | |
| Methane inhalation | Methane inhalation |
| 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 say. | 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 say. |
| In pictures: Deadly blast | In pictures: Deadly blast |
| One survivor described how he had to clamber over his dead colleagues along rail tracks to escape from the mine. | One survivor described how he had to clamber over his dead colleagues along rail tracks to escape from the mine. |
| Some 28 miners are now being treated in hospitals, many suffering from methane inhalation. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| On Monday, President Viktor Yushchenko was in Donetsk to chair a session of a commission investigating the disaster. | |
| Mr Yushchenko's office earlier quoted him as saying that the government had "made insufficient efforts to reorganise the mining sector, particularly the implementation of safe mining practices". | Mr Yushchenko's office earlier quoted him as saying that the government had "made insufficient efforts to reorganise the mining sector, particularly the implementation of safe mining practices". |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| 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. |