Number of people killed in Kazakhstan coal mine fire rises to 45

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The death toll rose to 45 from a fire that broke out in a mine in Kazakhstan's Karaganda region late Friday, the country's emergency services said.

“As of 19:30 (1330GMT), the bodies of 45 dead miners have been found," Kazakhstan’s Emergency Situations Ministry announced late Sunday.

The ministry said that search and rescue efforts continued for one missing miner.

On 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 ArcelorMittal, and declared Oct. 29 as a day of national mourning.