KIEV, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least three workers died when a mixture of methane and air exploded at a coal mine in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, local media reported Thursday.
The accident occurred at around 6:00 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) Wednesday at a mine in the non-government-controlled town of Shakhtarsk, said DAN news agency, which is run by pro-independence rebels in eastern Ukraine.
According to the report, five miners were working underground at the time of the blast. Two of them were rescued and hospitalized.
Ukraine's mines are believed to be among the most dangerous in the world due to the use of outdated equipment and high concentration of methane levels.
On March 2, a methane gas explosion occurred at Stepova mine in western Lvov region, killing eight workers and injuring 29 others.
