Ukrainian mine blast kills 24

A methane blast at a coal mine in eastern Ukraine has killed 24 miners, seriously injuring four others.

Rescue workers have recovered 20 bodies since the Aug. 16 explosion at the 19th Communist Party Congress mine, 450 miles east of Kiev. However, at press time, they had yet to recover four others trapped in the rubble. The injured miners are being treated for burns, according to Interfax News Agency.

All of the men were working at a depth of more than 2,200 ft. when the blast occurred. The government has allocated US$400,000 to compensate the families of the miners. Since the beginning of the year, about 200 miners have been killed in Ukrainian coal mines.