Kazakhstan. Explosion in a mine in Karaganda. Dozens of victims, many injured. The search for miners continues

There were 252 miners underground at the time of the explosion.

Initially, the Kazakh Emergency Situations Ministry reported that 28 people died and 18 were injured as a result of the explosion. On Saturday afternoon, the Azattyk website, citing emergency services, reported that 32 people had died and 17 people had been admitted to hospitals. According to local media, most of the injured suffered from gas poisoning.

The search for 14 miners is ongoing.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Kazakhstan announced the initiation of proceedings under an article regarding violations of safety regulations during mining or construction works.

President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev announced that October 29 will be a day of national mourning in the country. The Kazakh leader came to Karaganda, where he met with the miners’ relatives.

Tokayev also ordered the government to terminate investment cooperation with the mine owner. The government plans to seize its assets for the state in connection with the recent repeated fatal accidents at the company’s mining and industrial facilities.

As reported by Radio Azattyk, the Kazakh editorial office of Radio Svoboda, the accident at the mine named after Kostenka occurred 2.5 months after an accident in another mine. Five miners died then. In November last year in the mine named after Lenin also killed five people. In addition, four people died in another incident at a metallurgical plant controlled by the same company.