Mine fire in Kazakhstan: Death toll increases to 28, Prez announces one-day of national mourning

The number of miners killed in an accident at the Kostenko mine in Kazakhstan’s Karaganda Region has risen to 28, while the search for 18 people continues, the Kazakh Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the mine’s owner ArcelorMittal Temirtau said that the death toll had risen to 21. As many as 208 of the 252 miners were evacuated to the surface, 18 of whom sought medical assistance.

“Twenty-eight bodies found, the search for 18 miners continues,” the ministry said in a statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences to his Kazakh counterpart, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, over the deadly accident. Kazakh president expressed condolences to the victims’ families and declared a National Day of Mourning on October 29.