The recovery of bodies goes on after Donetsk mine blast

More bodies have been brought out of the east Ukrainian coal mine where yesterday at least 33 people died in an underground blast.

Throughout the night fellow miners recovered the dead but as dawn broke officials confirmed there was no hope of finding anyone else alive.

Around 230 miners had been working under ground at the time of the explosion which officials say was probably caused by gas.

Badly injured but still alive, one escapee relived the terrifying moment he found himself caught up in the pit’s latest tragedy.

Miner Ivan Lazarenko spoke as he lay in his hospital bed, his face covered in cuts and burns.

He said there was a bang.

“And then it threw me so hard that I flew for three or four metres. Immediately there was heat – the temperature rose, and here are the consequences. And then the temperature dropped a little, and
slowly we started crawling out.”

The pit lies near the frontline between rebels and Ukrainian government forces.

Zasyadko mine in Donetsk has a history of fatal accidents – A blast in 2007 killed more than 100 people.

Outside the gates, relatives had earlier clamoured for information. Sixteen injured miners are currently being treated in hospital.