Kazakhstan mine fire death toll reaches 46

Kazakh Minister of Emergency Situations Syrym Sharipkhanov has said that rescuers revealed the remains of the last person killed in an accident at the Kostenko coal mine of ArcelorMittal Temirtau company in Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region.

Sharipkhanov made these remarks at a governmental meeting, Caliber.Az reports citing the Kazakh media.

The minister noted that the total number of victims has reached 46.

“To date, during search and rescue operations, the bodies of 45 miners and the remains of the 46th deceased have been found. Some 40 dead have been identified, six dead have not been identified. The necessary expertise is being carried out to identify them,” he said.

A fire broke out at the Kostenko coal mine in the Karaganda region on October 28. There was a methane blast. At the time of the incident, 206 of 252 people at the mine were evacuated safely.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who expressed condolences to the victims' families and declared a national day of mourning on Oct. 29, ordered his cabinet to stop investment cooperation with ArcelorMittal Temirtau.

The company said it had suspended the operation of coal unit mines for 24 hours for gas protection checks. The government and company also confirmed they were working to finalise a deal to nationalise the company, which operates the country's biggest steel mill.

"ArcelorMittal can also confirm, as communicated earlier today by the government of Kazakhstan, that the two parties have been in discussions concerning the future of ArcelorMittal Temirtau and recently signed a preliminary agreement for a transaction that will transfer ownership to the Republic of Kazakhstan," the miner said.