Mine fire in Kazakhstan kills 21 people, injures 18 others
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Astana: At least 21 people were killed and 18 others injured in a fire at a mine in Kazakhstan's Karaganda Region on Saturday morning.
According to reports, twenty-one bodies have been found so far, and 23 miners are still trapped in the Kostenko mine, owned by steel giant Arcelor Mittal, as the rescue operation remains ongoing.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed condolence to the victims' families and declared a national day of mourning on October 29.
He called for "investment co-operation" to be halted, and the government said it was finalising a deal to nationalise the company that runs the country's biggest steel mill, BBC reported.
Of 252 people trapped inside the mine during the incident, 203 have been evacuated.
With inputs from IANS