By Xinhua
Kiev : A coal mine blast killed at least 17 miners Sunday in eastern Ukraine while 14 were still missing, the Interfax news agency reported.
The explosion took place around 3 a.m. local time in the Zasiagyko coalmine in the eastern region of Donetsk, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.
There were 457 miners working underground when the blast occurred. As many as 31 miners were in the area of the blast while others managed to climb to safety.
The toll could rise as rescuers were working at the site to retrieve survivors, Interfax-Ukraine said.