A tragic incident has occurred in Kazakhstan, where at least 45 coal miners have lost their lives after a devastating fire caused by a methane gas explosion in a mine. The heartbreaking event took place in the early hours of Saturday at the Kostenko mine located in the Karaganda region, state news agency Kazinform reports.
The explosion not only claimed precious lives, but also left a miner missing, prompting extensive search efforts by authorities. More than 200 people were successfully evacuated from the mine, bringing some hope amid the tragedy.
The mine in question is owned by ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer based in Luxembourg. Its local representative, ArcelorMittal Temirtau, is responsible for the operation of numerous coal and iron ore mines in Kazakhstan.
As a result of this tragic incident, the operations of the eight mines owned by the company in the Karaganda region have been suspended. In addition, the Attorney General’s Office has launched a comprehensive criminal investigation to find out the circumstances of the explosion.
In a statement released after the explosion, ArcelorMittal revealed that it had recently signed a preliminary agreement with the Kazakh government. This agreement entails the transfer of ownership of ArcelorMittal Temirtau to Kazakhstan. The company expressed its commitment to complete this transaction as quickly as possible, emphasizing the well-being of the employees and communities supported by its operations.
In a show of solidarity and grief, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared a national day of mourning on Sunday to honor those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.
The mining sector plays an important role in Kazakhstan’s economy, contributing an estimated 17% of the country’s GDP by 2021. However, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in mining operations.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the dead miners, the missing person and the entire mining community in Kazakhstan. We hope that the ongoing investigation will provide answers and help prevent these tragedies from occurring in the future.
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