(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-19 22:10

KIEV - The death toll of Sunday's coal mine blast in eastern Ukraine has climbed to 70 while the fate of 30 others is still unclear, Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister Andry Kliuev said on Monday.

A mine-rescue crew arrives at the Zasyadko mine in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, November 18 2007. Rescuers battled against heat and debris nearly 1,000 metres (3,000 feet) underground as 28 Ukrainian miners remained missing after a coal mine explosion that left 72 dead. [Agencies]

Kliuev, heading a governmental commission at the scene, said that 57 bodies have been brought to the ground by now, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

The Emergency Situations Ministry said earlier that 28 miners have been hospitalized, and one of them was in very serious condition while the others were diagnosed with gas poisoning.

The methane explosion occurred at the Zasyadka mine in the Donetsk region at a depth of more than 1,000 meters at 3:11 am local time (0111 GMT), the Emergency Situations Ministry said. The Donetsk region is about 640 km southeast of the capital, Kiev.

Official statements said 457 miners were working underground when the blast occurred.

Local authorities declared three days of mourning for the victims in the Donetsk region from November 19.

TV footage showed that dozens of weeping relatives gathered at the mine's headquarters in Donetsk waiting for news of their beloved ones.

Ukraine's Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych rushed to the scene on Sunday and President Victor Yushchenko is expected to arrive in Donetsk on Monday.

The Zasyadko mine, one of Ukraine's largest, produces up to 10,000 tons of coal every day. But several deadly accidents took place at the coal mine in recent years.

A gas leak at the Zasyadko mine in September 2006 killed 13 miners. In 1999 an explosion there claimed 50 lives, while in 2001 another blast claimed 55 lives.

Ukraine's most deadly mine accident was in 2000, when 80 miners were killed in an explosion at a colliery in the eastern region of Luhansk.