Death toll in Kazakhstan coal mine disaster rises to 42

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The number of people killed due to a fire at a coal mine in Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region has risen to 42, authorities said on Sunday.

“As of 15:00 (0900GMT), the bodies of 42 dead were found, and the search for 4 miners continues,” the Emergency Situations Ministry said in a statement, adding that a search and rescue operation was still underway.

Late Friday, a fire broke out at the Kostenko coal mine operated by ArcelorMittal, a Luxembourg-based multinational steel manufacturing corporation, where some 252 workers were present.

Following the incident, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered the government to end cooperation with the group, and declared Oct. 29 as a day of national mourning.