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41 trapped underground in Ukraine mine fire
Kiev, July 07: Forty-one Ukrainian miners were trapped underground today after a fire broke out at a mine in the Donestsk region in the east of the country, the fuel and energy ministry said.
Kiev, July 07: Forty-one Ukrainian miners were trapped underground today after a fire broke out at a mine in the Donestsk region in the east of the country, the fuel and energy ministry said.
A total of 114 miners were working at the Ukrainsk pit when the fire broke out at a depth of 570 metres early today, the ministry said.
Seventy-three miners were raised to the surface immediately, but 41 others could not be lifted, officials said.
Seven were brought to the surface a few hours later, the Itar-Tass news agency said in a report which ministry officials could not confirm.
The miners remaining below were at risk from carbon dioxide fumes carried by an airstream from the site of the fire, experts quoted by Itar-Tass said.
A spokesman for the emergencies ministry said that the situation underground was not difficult and he was optimistic that all the men could be lifted to safety.
Two people were taken to hospital suffering from gas inhalation but their lives were not in danger, he said, adding that rescue workers were arriving at the scene from mines in other regions.
Bureau Report
A total of 114 miners were working at the Ukrainsk pit when the fire broke out at a depth of 570 metres early today, the ministry said.
Seventy-three miners were raised to the surface immediately, but 41 others could not be lifted, officials said.
Seven were brought to the surface a few hours later, the Itar-Tass news agency said in a report which ministry officials could not confirm.
The miners remaining below were at risk from carbon dioxide fumes carried by an airstream from the site of the fire, experts quoted by Itar-Tass said.
A spokesman for the emergencies ministry said that the situation underground was not difficult and he was optimistic that all the men could be lifted to safety.
Two people were taken to hospital suffering from gas inhalation but their lives were not in danger, he said, adding that rescue workers were arriving at the scene from mines in other regions.
Bureau Report