4 Mar 2015 11:58

Self-proclaimed Donetsk republic has not confirmed reports on death toll from mine blast

MOSCOW. March 4 (Interfax) - Oleksiy Kudenko, the chief of the self-proclaimed Donetsk people's republic (DPR) Emergency Situations Ministry, has not confirmed reports on a large number of fatalities following an explosion in the Zasyadko coalmine in Donetsk.

"We don't know about 30 deaths and cannot confirm this information," Kudenko told Interfax on Wednesday.

Preliminary reports indicate that methane exploded in the mine, and a rescue operation is under way, he said.