Twenty miners died and another 17 were missing Friday in two separate accidents at coal mines in the east of Ukraine, an industrial region notorious for its mining safety record. The twin disasters were the country's worst mining accidents since more than 100 miners were killed in a mine explosion in 2007.
President Viktor Yanukovych interrupted his vacation and was expected at the Lugansk mine, which is run by a private holding controlled by Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine's richest man who bankrolled his 2010 presidential campaign. Yanukovych also cancelled plans to attend the Formula 1 Power Boat Grand Prix near Kiev, his administration said.
At least 16 miners were killed instantly as a result of an explosion at the Sukhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mine in the eastern Lugansk region early Friday, the emergencies ministry said. Another three workers received burns and other injuries and were hospitalised, it said. One of the injured died later of his wounds.
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