Ukraine Mine Rescue- 33 miners were declared dead on Wednesday, March 4 in a suspected gas explosion in a region ruled by Russian rebels in East Ukraine.
The Ukraine prime minister alleges the rebels to be responsible for blocking the Ukraine mine rescue operation by limiting access in the region. However, in the midst of debates, the Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov has expressed help to Ukraine mine rescue work.
"Under the April 23, 1997 agreement between the government of the Russian Federation and the government of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of prevention of industrial accidents, catastrophes, natural disasters and mitigation of their consequences, we are ready to offer any necessary assistance in conducting search and rescue operations," Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov mentioned in a message sent to the Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry.
Earlier as the Ukraine mine rescue operation was taking place, the mine officials have confirmed that the gas blast was most likely the cause of rising death toll among the miners, and that it was not related to the clash between the Ukraine government forces and the Moscow-backed rebels.
Investigation revealed that possibly methane gas started the explosion at the Zasyadko coal mine at Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk on Wednesday morning. The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) officials reported around 230 miners were working that time when the blast occurred, Sputnik News reports.
According to Reuters, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said that Ukraine mine rescue team had been deployed to the scene but the Russian terrorists had banned them from entering the area as he points to the rebels as 'terrorists.'
"We ask the Russian Federation to allow Ukraine mine rescue teams to pass," Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said in a statement. "You've taken hostage millions of Ukrainians who live in Donetsk and Luhansk, and now you ruthlessly humiliate the families of miners by not letting us help people."
As BBC mentioned, the mine is located near where the two troops have been battling. Mykhailo Volynets, Ukraine's mine unions head however stated that there had been no reported case of fighting in the area lately.
As the Ukraine mine rescue teams were held on Wednesday, the Ukraine-controlled Donetsk regional administration confirmed death of 33 people where nine bodies of the miners were already recovered. Although there were reported 230 miners inside when blast occurred, 200 were already accounted.
As the Ukraine mine rescue operation was going earlier on Wednesday, Eduard Dmitrenko, a miner who checked the explosion area stated that miners trapped at the Zasyadko Coal Mine were more likely to be dead.
There were no confirmations on Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk allegations that Ukraine mine rescue teams were not allowed to pass by the rebels according to the locals in the area. Scotsman mentioned that investigation is still ongoing to know the real cause of the explosion.
Zasyadko coal mine has recorded fatal explosions in the past. Now owned by a private firm, the mine site has been operating for 57 years. In 2007 blast, 106 miners died and were buried in graves next to the pit. It was considred the worst mining disaster since 1991.
A welder named Oleg stated that the incident was the fourth blasting since he started working there in 23 years. He assured, although there were no sure survivors, Ukraine mine rescue operation will soon recover bodies of the miners.