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At least 16 killed in Ukraine mine blast

SUKHODILSKA-VOSTOCHNAYA, Ukraine, July 29 (UPI) -- An explosion at a mine in eastern Ukraine killed at least 16 miners Friday, authorities said.

Another three miners were hospitalized and nine were missing, rescue workers told RIA Novosti.

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The explosion struck at a depth of 3,000 feet at the Sukhodilska-Vostochnaya mine in the Luhansk region, which is run by Metinvest, Ukraine's biggest steel producer. A reaction of methane and air is suspected as the cause.

Ukraine has been plagued by mining accidents. A 2007 explosion near Donetsk killed more than 100 miners.

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