Coal mine fire in Kazakhstan leaves 36 dead; 10 miners still missing
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At least 36 people have been killed in a fire at a mine in Kazakhstan's Karaganda region, owned by steel giant ArcelorMittal on Saturday, the country's Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Sunday.
"At present, 36 bodies have been recovered and the search for 10 miners is continuing," the ministry said on its website, Xinhua news agency reported.
The chances of finding them alive are, however, 'very low,' the rescuers warned the previous night, due to the lack of ventilation in the mine. A methane explosion had struck the mine shaft. A total of 208 miners have been evacuated after the accident, local media reported.
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev travelled to the scene of the accident on Saturday and instructed the government to cease investment cooperation with ArcelorMittal.
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Tokayev also expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the mine fire, instructing the government to provide all required assistance to the families.
The government commission to investigate the causes of Saturday's accident at the mine was created, headed by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.
The government has reached a preliminary agreement with the shareholders of ArcelorMittal Temirtau and is finalising the transfer of ownership deal in favour of Kazakhstan, The Astana Times reported.
On Sunday, flags were at half-mast to mark the day of national mourning declared by Tokayev.
It is the second fatal incident in the last two months at a site operated by ArcelorMittal in Kazakhstan.
With inputs from agencies
