DONETSK (Ukraine), Nov 18: A methane explosion ripped through a colliery in Ukraine’s Donbass coalfield on Sunday, killing at least 56 miners and leaving 44 missing in underground shafts engulfed by fire and smoke.

A trade union official said there was only a small chance the missing miners would be rescued alive after the blast more than 1,000 metres underground at Zasyadko mine in Donetsk.

The figures, issued by Ukraine’s Emergencies Ministry, put the accident among the most serious since Ukraine won independence from Soviet rule in 1991.

Other industrial sectors in Ukraine have also been plagued by accidents causing loss of life or damage.

Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich flew to Donetsk, his native region, to assess the latest of a long series of accidents in Donbass’s outdated mines and said a fire was still burning unchecked several hours after the 3am blast.

“There is a blockage at the accident site formed by a cave-in, airshafts and water channels,” Yanukovich, dressed in black, said after a meeting of a commission of inquiry. “This is being cleared.”

A deputy prime minister later said the fire been brought under control. Officials said 27 miners were in hospital, one in a serious condition. President Viktor Yushchenko, the prime minister’s longstanding rival, announced plans to visit Donetsk on Monday.—Reuters