5 Mar 2015 09:13

Donetsk mine blast kills 32 - DPR ministry

DONETSK. March 5 (Interfax) - The death toll from a suspected methane gas explosion at the Zasyadko coal mine in Donetsk stands at 32, the Emergency Situations Ministry of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) told Interfax.

"The dead bodies of the eight remaining miners have been lifted to the surface, bringing the death toll to 32 people," a ministry spokesman said.

One more miner remains unaccounted for.

There were 230 people in the shaft at the time of the blast, which occurred at 5:20 a.m. on Wednesday.

The Zasyadko mine is one of Ukraine's major coal producers.