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| Ukraine gas blast 'kills 30' at Zasyadko coal mine | Ukraine gas blast 'kills 30' at Zasyadko coal mine |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A suspected gas blast at a coal mine in a rebel-held region of east Ukraine has killed at least 30 people and left some 40 missing, officials said. | A suspected gas blast at a coal mine in a rebel-held region of east Ukraine has killed at least 30 people and left some 40 missing, officials said. |
| However, several rebel officials said later that they could not confirm the death toll at the Zasyadko mine in Donetsk. | However, several rebel officials said later that they could not confirm the death toll at the Zasyadko mine in Donetsk. |
| At least 14 miners were also injured at Zasyadko, which saw Ukraine's worst mine disaster nearly eight years ago. | At least 14 miners were also injured at Zasyadko, which saw Ukraine's worst mine disaster nearly eight years ago. |
| Anxious relatives of miners have gathered at the scene to await news. | |
| Very little information has been given out about the situation of the trapped miners, the BBC's Tom Burridge reports in a tweet from the scene. | |
| Donetsk saw heavy fighting between separatist rebels and government troops over the winter but a mine union official, Mikhail Volynets, told a Ukrainian TV channel there had been no fighting in the area in recent days. | Donetsk saw heavy fighting between separatist rebels and government troops over the winter but a mine union official, Mikhail Volynets, told a Ukrainian TV channel there had been no fighting in the area in recent days. |
| While Ukraine's economy has significantly shrunk since the conflict began in April, many coal mines continue to operate in the conflict zone. | While Ukraine's economy has significantly shrunk since the conflict began in April, many coal mines continue to operate in the conflict zone. |
| Before the conflict, accidents were common in the mines, where safety standards are poor. | Before the conflict, accidents were common in the mines, where safety standards are poor. |
| Ukrainian coal mine disasters | |
| 18 November 2007: 101 miners killed after a methane explosion at Zasyadko Mine, Donetsk | |
| 11 March 2000: 80 killed after a methane explosion at Barakova Mine, Luhansk region | |
| 4 March 2015: up to 30 killed after suspected methane gas blast at Zasyadko | |
| Minute's silence | Minute's silence |
| Vladimir Tsymbalenko, head of the local mining safety service, was quoted by Reuters as saying: "According to preliminary information, more than 30 people were killed." | Vladimir Tsymbalenko, head of the local mining safety service, was quoted by Reuters as saying: "According to preliminary information, more than 30 people were killed." |
| In the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev, speaker Volodymyr Hroisman told MPs that 32 people had been killed in a "terrible tragedy". He called for a minute's silence in memory of the victims. | |
| But speaking later to a Russian news agency, Interfax. the head of the rebel rescue service, Alexei Kudenko, said he could not confirm the reports of at least 30 deaths. | But speaking later to a Russian news agency, Interfax. the head of the rebel rescue service, Alexei Kudenko, said he could not confirm the reports of at least 30 deaths. |
| A Donetsk district official contacted by Interfax was also unable to confirm the deaths. | A Donetsk district official contacted by Interfax was also unable to confirm the deaths. |
| At the time of the blast, 230 people were in the shaft. | At the time of the blast, 230 people were in the shaft. |
| Of these, 157 had been brought out by 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT), leaving 73 unaccounted for before reports of the deaths, rebel and official sources say. | Of these, 157 had been brought out by 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT), leaving 73 unaccounted for before reports of the deaths, rebel and official sources say. |
| 'Tell me' | |
| The sister of one miner who was in the pit at the time of the explosion, Alexei Novoselsky, stood at the entrance to the mine, in tears, Reuters reports. | |
| "Tell me, are there survivors?" she asked a passing rescue worker. "Why are you concealing the truth?" | |
| A welder at the mine, who gave his name as Oleg, said outside the entrance: "What I heard is that there are 45 people trapped. They got one out." | |
| Asked about the chances of rescuing more miners, he said: "I've been down the pit for 23 years, and this is the fourth explosion that I can recall. | |
| "If they didn't get them out straight away, then later they will only retrieve bodies. An explosion is a terrible thing." | |
| Despite being one of the region's newer and better-equipped mines, Zasyadko suffered Ukraine's worst mining disaster in November 2007, when 101 people were killed. | Despite being one of the region's newer and better-equipped mines, Zasyadko suffered Ukraine's worst mining disaster in November 2007, when 101 people were killed. |
| The mine is one of Ukraine's biggest coal producers. | |
| Are you in the area? How have you been affected by the incident? Contact us here haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? How have you been affected by the incident? Contact us here haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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