Coal Mine Explosion Kills 63 in Ukraine

A METHANE blast ripped through a coal mine in eastern Ukraine yesterday, killing at least 63 miners in the former Soviet nations worst mining accident in years.

More than 360 miners were rescued, but 37 others remained trapped inside the mine one of Ukraines largest and deepest with a raging fire hampering efforts to save them, officials said. One miner said he had to clamber over dead colleagues along the rail track and navigate through blinding dust to escape.

The explosion occurred around 3am about 1km deep inside the Zasyadko mine in the regional capital, Donetsk, the heart of the countrys coal mining industry, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.

The accident, the worst in Ukraine in seven years, highlighted the lack of attention to safety in a country with some of the worlds most dangerous mines.

President Viktor Yushchenko blamed his Cabinet for not doing enough to reform coal mining and ordered an official panel to investigate the accident and bring those responsible to account.

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