Deadly blast at Ukraine coal mine kills 1, dozens trapped

DONETSK, Ukraine, March 4 (UPI) -- A methane gas explosion, in a notoriously dangerous coal mine in eastern Ukraine, has one person dead and dozens trapped and injured early Wednesday.

Rescue workers were trying to reach at least 32 workers trapped in the mine in rebel-held Donetsk. Many were feared dead. At the time of the blast separatist authorities reported there were 230 people in the shaft, and later reported a large number were returned to the surface. Officials originally said up to 32 workers were dead, but later revised the statement to say 32 were missing.

The explosion ripped through the Zasyadko mine, known as one of the most dangerous mines in the world because of high levels of methane gas and other hazards. In 2007, 101 miners died there in what is still considered Ukraine's deadliest disaster.