A gas explosion ripped through a notoriously dangerous Ukrainian coal mine on Sunday killing at least 39 miners and leaving dozens missing, the emergency situations ministry said. Rescuers were searching for 51 miners still unaccounted for after the blast at the Zasyadko mine in the eastern Donetsk region, an spokesman for the emergency situations ministry told AFP.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych rushed to the scene to lead the government's response to one of the worst mining accident's in the country's history, vowing in televised comments to establish the cause of the accident.
"I am grieving with all of Ukraine," President Viktor Yushchenko said in a statement.
The head of the regional administration declared three days of mourning, Interfax reported. A massive rescue operation continued through the day with 65 rescue teams and more than 20 medical units at the scene, the emergency situations ministry said in a statement.