By DPA
Kiev : At least 63 miners were killed in a methane gas explosion in a coal mine in Ukraine’s eastern city of Donetsk while at least 30 more workers remained missing, Interfax news agency reported.
Rescuers continued searching for workers who had been working in the Zasyadko mine, Interfax in Ukraine reported Sunday, citing Emergency Situations Ministry spokesman Igor Krol in Kiev. Three days’ mourning were ordered in the region, beginning Monday.
The ministry spokesman said that over 350 workers had been rescued after the accident, which was caused by the explosion at a depth of 1,000 metres early Sunday.
More than 30 people had to be treated in hospital for methane gas poisoning. A total of 457 people were reported to have been working in the mine when the explosion ripped through it.
According to Ukrainian media reports, the affected mineshaft has been the scene of numerous methane gas explosions in which dozens have been killed in the past years.
Ukrainian mines are among the world’s most dangerous, with methane gas explosions common in recent years. From January to July 2007, 150 miners died in accidents and nearly 6,000 were injured.
Outdated machinery, shoddy working practices and a lack of safety procedures are reported to be the cause of most accidents.
A third of Ukraine’s 165 mines are over 100 years old. Most mines have not been overhauled and brought up to date for decades even though the Ukrainian government has demanded increased extraction of coal.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko accused the government Sunday of “not doing enough to reorganize mining”. Far more would have to be done for the safety of miners.
Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych had earlier visited the scene of the accident and said: “We have to build new mines and we are building them, but not yet enough.”