Methane explosion kills at least five

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AFP) — A methane explosion at a coal mine in central Kazakhstan killed at least five people and injured another four on Thursday, officials said.

"A sudden release of gas during the drilling of a drainage well led to the deaths of five workers" in the Lenin mine belonging to ArcelorMittal, Ruslan Imankulov, a spokesperson for the country's emergency ministry, told AFP.

Imankulov added that "four people were hospitalized and 106 were evacuated."

The mine is located in the resource-rich region of Karaganda, whose governor said the accident had been caused by an "explosion of methane" — a gas that, when combined with a certain amount of oxygen, can combust.

An investigation into potential violations of safety rules has been opened by a government commission.

In a statement, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev offered his "condolences to the families and friends of the deceased workers" and wished a "speedy recovery to the injured."

Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic and Central Asia's leading economy, has significant deposits of oil, gas and coal, as well as uranium, manganese, iron and chromium.