Freak of Nature And Human Error Caused Death of 48 Miners 

It was impossible to foresee this, as well as to get people out of the mine in time. The experts conclude that there was only a 15-millisecond interval between the gas being released and the explosion.

The commission also considered other explanations only to reject them after scrupulous verification. Nor was the theory blaming coal dust for the explosion proved. In this case, a far stronger blast wave and higher temperature in the epicenter would have claimed far more lives. But, as the mine strictly observed safety rules, blocks of inert-dust kept the coal dust from blowing up. Incidentally, the experts noted there had been all the necessary rescue facilities underground. But what actually caused the deaths was an abnormal concentration of carbon monoxide and high temperature at the moment of explosion. Those responsible for electrical plant maintenance will be dismissed, the first deputy premier assured local miners. Criminal proceedings have been instituted and investigation of the disaster is ongoing.

Unfortunately, the death toll has already reached 48: another seven miners died of burns, injuries and carbon-monoxide poisoning in the burns center of the Ukrainian Institute of Emergency and Rehabilitative Surgery. Another victim died in the intensive-care ward at the regional hospital. Every effort is being made to save their comrades. In two-days time, UAH 2 million have been transferred to the center and another UAH 500,000 to purchase medications for the victims.