Ukraine: Nationwide day of mourning as 33 confirmed dead in coal mine blast

05/03/15 10:52 CET

As the death toll from the Zasyadko coal mine disaster reaches 33, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has declared Thursday (March 5) a day of national mourning.

5 березня - день жалоби за загиблими на шахті імені Засядька http://t.co/93tlGFED8X pic.twitter.com/qSTIJENFib
— Петро Порошенко (@poroshenko) March 4, 2015

(“March 5 – the day of mourning for the victims at Zasyadko mine.”)

Sixteen people have been hospitalised as a result of the explosion – thought to have been caused by a build-up of methane gas.

Miners returned to work in other parts of the pit the day after the disaster.

Zasyadko mine lies in the rebel-held Donbass region, in Ukraine’s industrial heartland. However, recent fighting in the area, between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces, is not thought to have any link to the blast.

The mine has a history of fatal accidents. There were three accidents in 2007 alone, one of which killed 101 people.

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