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DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) — The number of confirmed dead in a coal mine explosion in eastern Ukraine now stands at 24 or more. Nine others are still missing.
The mine is in a separatist-controlled region of eastern Ukraine -- and Ukraine's government is accusing separatist authorities of not doing enough to save the lives of the miners. He says rebels prevented a team of 60 Ukrainian rescuers from reaching the mine to provide assistance. But a rebel spokesman denies that Ukraine had offered any help. And he's quoted as saying, "If we truly need assistance, we will turn to Russia."
Rebel officials say the explosion was caused by methane gas -- rather than artillery fire between rebels and government troops.
Miners arriving for their morning shift ended up doing most of the work to clear away debris. Reaching the area where the blast took place was complicated because the entrance that was closest to the accident has been shut by the artillery fire that has plagued the city of Donetsk.
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194-c-11-(Nataliya Vasilyeva (nah-TAH'-lee-yah vah-SEEL'-yay-vah), AP correspondent)-"that since 1990"-AP correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva reports that the mine has a history of deadly accidents. (4 Mar 2015)
<<CUT *194 (03/04/15)££ 00:11 "that since 1990"
193-c-11-(Nataliya Vasilyeva (nah-TAH'-lee-yah vah-SEEL'-yay-vah), AP correspondent)-"lying around him"-AP correspondent Nataliya Vasilyeva reports that one miner has described a horrific scene following the blast. (4 Mar 2015)
<<CUT *193 (03/04/15)££ 00:11 "lying around him"
APPHOTO XVG117: A relative of a miner cries outside the headquarters of the Zasyadko mine in Donetsk, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 4, 2015. An explosion ripped through a coal mine before dawn Wednesday in war-torn eastern Ukraine, killing at least one miner and trapping more than 30 others underground, rebel and government officials said. One injured miner reported seeing five bodies.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (4 Mar 2015)
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APPHOTO XVG113: A Ukrainian coal miner waits for a bus after exiting the underground of the Zasyadko mine, where he helped search for bodies of colleagues and clear up debris following an explosion, in Donetsk, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 4, 2015. The explosion ripped through a coal mine before dawn Wednesday in war-torn eastern Ukraine, killing at least one miner and trapping more than 30 others underground, rebel and government officials said. One injured miner reported seeing five bodies. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (4 Mar 2015)
<<APPHOTO XVG113 (03/04/15)££
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