Ukraine coal mine blast kills 6, 7 missing

KIEV, Ukraine, June 9 (UPI) -- Six men were killed and seven were still missing in an explosion in the Skochynsky coal mine at Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, mining officials said Tuesday.

Thirty-six coal miners were injured, two of them seriously, when a methane gas explosion Monday ripped the shaft, about 305 feet underground, officials of the state-run Donetsk coal energy firm said.

Rescuers recovered three bodies Tuesday, and another three dead miners were uncovered Monday.

A total of 344 miners were in the mine at the time of the blast.

Rescue teams said 38 miners Monday got out of the shaft safely.

The mine officials said searching operations are being continued, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.