KIEV, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed after a coal mine collapsed in Ukraine's eastern Lugansk region, local media reported Thursday.
The accident occurred at 620 meters below the ground at around 8:30 a.m. local time (0530 GMT) Wednesday at the Nikolska-95 mine in Antratsyt district, said Lugansk information center, without giving the reasons for the collapse.
According to the media outlet, the exact number of workers trapped underground following the accident is unknown because the mine was operating illegally. The search and rescue operation in the mine is underway.
The Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the accident as the collapsed mine is located in the area in Lugansk region controlled by independence-seeking insurgents.
