A methane explosion at a coal mine in Central Kazakhstan has killed at least five workers and injured another four.
Ruslan Imankulov, a spokesman for the country’s emergency ministry said; “A sudden release of gas during the drilling of a drainage well led to the deaths of five workers on Thursday in the Lenin coal mine belonging to ArcelorMittal.”
Imankulov added that “four people were hospitalised and 106 were evacuated”.
The mine is located in the town of Shakhtinsk in the resource-rich region of Karaganda, whose governor said the accident had been caused by an “explosion of methane” – a gas that, when combined with a certain amount of oxygen, can combust.
An investigation into potential violations of safety rules has been opened by a government commission.
In a statement, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also offered his “condolences to the families and friends of the deceased workers”, and wished a “speedy recovery to the injured”.
Quadri Adejumo covers World News, Health, Climate & Humanitarian.
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