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Ukraine gas blast 'kills 30' at Zasyadko coal mine Ukraine gas blast 'kills 33' 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 eastern Ukraine has killed 33 people and trapped around 30, a rebel official told BBC News.
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 the Zasyadko mine, which saw Ukraine's worst mine disaster nearly eight years ago when 101 were killed.
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.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. There are fears the rebels lack the resources to deal with the disaster, the BBC's Tom Burridge reports.
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 disastersUkrainian coal mine disasters
18 November 2007: 101 miners killed after a methane explosion at Zasyadko Mine, Donetsk18 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 region11 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 4 March 2015: 33 feared dead after suspected methane gas blast at Zasyadko
Minute's silence 'Tell me!'
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." Confusion surrounded the death toll in the hours after the blast, which occurred at 05:20 (03:20 GMT).
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. In the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev, speaker Volodymyr Hroisman announced that 32 people had been killed and called for a minute's silence.
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. However, he later retracted the figure, saying instead that one person was dead and the fate of 32 others was unknown.
A Donetsk district official contacted by Interfax was also unable to confirm the deaths. It is known that, 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, leaving 73 unaccounted for before reports of the deaths, both rebel and official sources said.
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.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?""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." A welder at the mine, who gave his name as Oleg, said: "I've been down the pit for 23 years, and this is the fourth explosion that I can recall.
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.""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.
The mine is one of Ukraine's biggest coal producers.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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