Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
A suspected gas blast at a coal mine in a rebel-held region of east Ukraine is believed to have killed some 30 miners, the rebels told the BBC.
One is confirmed dead and 14 were injured at the Zasyadko mine, which saw Ukraine’s worst mine disaster nearly eight years ago when 101 were killed.
Anxious relatives of miners have gathered at the scene to await news.
There are fears the rebels lack the resources to deal with the disaster, the BBC’s Tom Burridge reports.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has demanded access to the mine for government rescuers and police.
A mine union official, Mikhail Volynets, told a Ukrainian TV channel there had been no fighting in the area in recent days.
While Ukraine’s economy has significantly shrunk since the conflict began in April, many coal mines continue to operate in the conflict zone.
Before the conflict, accidents were common in the mines, where safety standards are poor.
Ukrainian coal mine disasters
18 November 2007: 101 miners killed after a methane explosion at Zasyadko Mine, Donetsk
11 March 2000: 80 killed after a methane explosion at Barakova Mine, Luhansk region
4 March 2015: 33 feared dead after suspected methane gas blast at Zasyadko
BBC