Ukraine to mourn the tragedy at Donetsk mine on August 3rd

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has signed a decree envisaging that Ukraine will mourn the death of 20 miners at the Zasyadko coal mine in Donetsk on August 3rd. This information was disclosed on Friday by the Ukrainian presidential staff.

The tragedy took place in the late hours of July 28th when methane mixed with coal dust exploded. At that moment, there were 21 miners in a tunnel located at a 1,058-metre depth.

Rescue teams managed to save only one miner who is currently in the ambulance department of a Donetsk hospital.

This has been the third large-scale accident at this mine over the past three years. The first one took place in 1999 leaving 50 miners killed. The second one occurred in 2001 claiming 55 human lives. The recent accident's death toll is 19 miners.

More than 150 miners have been killed in Ukrainian mines in 2002.

An investigation into the explosion at the Zasyadko mine has been launched.