Kostenko mine disaster
Kostenko mine, 2016
Date28 October 2023 (2023-10-28)
LocationKostenko mine, Karaganda, Karaganda Region, Kazakhstan
Coordinates49°51′36″N 73°06′54″E / 49.86°N 73.115°E / 49.86; 73.115
Deaths46
Non-fatal injuries18

On the morning of 28 October 2023, a fire started at the Kostenko mine in the Karaganda Region of Kazakhstan.[1] The fire killed 46 miners. The fire was presumably caused by a methane gas explosion underground. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, ordered the termination of all investment with the company ArcelorMittal Temirtau, which owns the mine,[2] and 29 October was declared a national day of mourning in Kazakhstan.[3]

Background

The Kostenko mine is a coal mine owned by ArcelorMittal Temirtau, a subsidiary of Luxembourg-based steel manufacturing company ArcelorMittal, through multiple acquisitions that began with Ispat Steel purchasing the mine from the Kazakh government in 1995.[4][5][6] The subsidiary owns the largest metallurgical plants in Kazakhstan, as well as eight coal mines and two iron ore mines.[7][8] Over 100 people have died at ArcelorMittal Temirtau facilities over 15 years.[9] Authorities had already expressed dissatisfaction with the company's failure to fulfill its investment commitments, modernize equipment, and ensure worker safety. Two months before the fire, an accident occurred at another of the company's mines, the Kazakhstanskaya mine, which resulted in the death of five people. After the accident at Kazakhstanskaya, government authorities stated that they had decided to nationalise the operation.[2]

Fire

28 October

At 02:33 ALMT at the Kostenko mine, a fire occurred at a level located about 700 metres (2,300 ft) deep.[10] At the time of the incident, 252 people were in the mine, 205 of whom were brought to the surface.[11] 18 people received medical assistance. Initially, four dead bodies were found, and three more were later discovered.[12] 15 of the injured experienced carbon monoxide poisoning.[13]

At 14:00, the bodies of 22 miners were found. A professional military rescue service helped with emergency rescue operations.[12] By 16:00, the death toll had increased to 32 people.[14]

Later that night, at a briefing in Karaganda, it was said that the 13 people who had not yet been found had little chance of survival and that a fire from a coal furnace caused the disaster. The high death toll was the result of a subsequent gas explosion.[15] By 19:00, the fire had been extinguished and the mine was safe for rescue work. The poor state of the recovered bodies made them challenging to identify.[16]

29 October

In the morning, rescuers found four more bodies, with the death toll reaching 36. Twenty-nine bodies were brought to the surface, leaving 11 people still missing.[17] At 14:00, the number of dead miners reached 38 people. Nine people remained missing from the mine.[18] By 15:00, the bodies of 42 miners had been found, and the search for four miners continued.[19][20] By 17:00, the number found had reached 45.[21] One miner still remained unaccounted for and was presumed dead.[22]

30 October

According to the HOLA news agency, the 46th and last missing body of a miner was found in the coal mine,[23] DNA tests will be conducted to determine the identity of the deceased miners.

Aftermath

A government commission was established to determine the causes of the disaster. The Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan opened a criminal case into the incident under Part 3 of Article 277 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan (violation of safety rules during mining or construction work). President Tokayev visited the mine and ordered the termination of all investment with the company,[11] and 29 October was declared a day of national mourning in the country.[11][3]

The ownership rights of ArcelorMittal Temirtau were set to be transferred to the government.[24]

According to the Prime Minister's official website, 20 injured miners are currently in the care of Professor H.J., they are "receiving the necessary treatment" in the multidisciplinary hospital named after Makazhanov.[25]

According to the Karaganda regional health department published on October 29, 28 people were taken to the hospital, 20 gas-poisoned people were slightly and moderately injured, one patient with various injuries is in the intensive care unit in a stable condition, one person is in traumatology, the condition is moderate, two miners are in the Shakhtinsky center admitted to the hospital, conditions are moderate, and four people were sent to outpatient treatment.[26] According to the Ministry of Emergencies published at 15:21, the bodies of 42 people were found, and four people are still being searched for.

Relatives of the victims of the disaster complained about the slowness of the search, and the representative of the emergency services explained that this was due to the fact that some parts of the mine were flooded, and therefore the search was difficult.[27]

Settlement

Survivors benefits will be provided to families of victims from three sources: the republican budget, social insurance, and life insurance companies. The average payment will be ₸400,000–500,000 (roughly US$1,000) per month until dependents reach the age of 18, or 23 if they are studying in a higher educational institution. ArcelorMittal Temirtau will secure the payment of all funds.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "В шахте им.Костенко в Казахстане нашли тела 28 погибших при пожаре горняков" (in Russian). Interfax. 2023-10-28. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  2. 1 2 "В Казахстане более 30 человек погибли в результате пожара в шахте" (in Russian). BBC News Russian. 2023-10-28. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  3. 1 2 "В Казахстане 29 октября будет днем траура в связи с гибелью людей на шахте". Interfax. 2023-10-28. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  4. ↑ "Karmet history Karaganda ArcelorMittal Temirtau Steelworks". www.steelonthenet.com. Archived from the original on 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  5. ↑ "ArcelorMittal Temirtau, Kazakhstan". Bankwatch. Archived from the original on 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  6. ↑ Deep Gassy Coal Mines of Karaganda Coal Basin (PDF) (Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Kazakhstan confirms nationalization of ArcelorMittal subsidiary after mine fire kills at least 32". AP News. 2023-10-28. Archived from the original on 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  8. ↑ Annual Report 2022 (PDF) (Report). March 8, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  9. ↑ Вебер, Елена (2023-10-28). "Очередная смертоносная авария на шахте. Астана возвращает себе активы «Арселора»?" (in Russian). Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  10. ↑ "Взрыв на шахте Костенко: число погибших возросло до 33" (in Russian). Деловой портал Капитал.кз. 2023-10-28. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  11. 1 2 3 "Что известно о пожаре на шахте в Караганде". TASS. 2023-10-28. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  12. 1 2 "ЧП НА ШАХТЕ ИМ. КОСТЕНКО: ХРОНОЛОГИЯ ПРОИСШЕСТВИЯ". 24.kz (in Russian). 2023-10-28. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  13. ↑ "Kazakhstan mine fire leaves at least 42 dead". tengrinews.kz. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  14. ↑ "Қарағандыдағы шахтадағы жарылыс". tengrinews.kz (in Russian). 28 October 2023. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  15. ↑ Вебер, Елена (2023-10-28). "Костенко шахтасындағы апат: 33 адамның денесі табылды, 13 кенші іздестіріліп жатыр". Азаттық Радиосы (in Kazakh). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  16. ↑ "Шахтадағы апат: Мерт болған кеншілердің жеке басын анықтау қиынға түсуде" (in Kazakh). kazinform. 2023-10-28. Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  17. ↑ "Костенко шахтасындағы апат: сағат 9-дағы жағдай бойынша" (in Kazakh). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2023-10-29. Archived from the original on 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  18. ↑ "Костенко шахтасындағы Трагедия: 38 адамның денесі табылды". baigenews.kz (in Russian). 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Аварияны жою жөніндегі республикалық жедел штабтың басшысы шахтаға түсті" (in Kazakh). ҚР ІІМ. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "Руководитель республиканского оперативного штаба по ликвидации аварии произвел спуск в шахту" (in Russian). Ministry of Emergency Situations (Kazakhstan). 2023-10-29. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  21. ↑ "Число погибших при аварии на шахте в Караганде продолжает расти". news.ru. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  22. ↑ "Kazakhstan mourns after ArcelorMittal mine disaster kills 45". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 2023-10-29. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  23. ↑ Service, RFE/RL's Kazakh. "Body Of 46th Victim From Kazakh Mine Fire Recovered". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  24. ↑ Қазақбекова, Сабина (2023-10-28). ""ArcelorMittal Temirtau" жақында компанияның меншік құқығы Қазақстанға берілетінін растады". Kursiv Media Казахстан (in Kazakh). Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  25. ↑ "Әлихан Смайылов Костенко атындағы шахтада зардап шеккен кеншілердің көңілін сұрауға барды - Қазақстан Республикасы Премьер-Министрінің ресми ақпараттық ресурсы". primeminister.kz (in Kazakh). Archived from the original on 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  26. ↑ "Azattyq - Азаттық". Telegram. Archived from the original on 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  27. ↑ "Azattyq - Азаттык". Telegram. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  28. ↑ Халдарова, Динара (2023-10-28). "Токаев провел заседание оперштаба по ликвидации аварии на шахте Костенко". zakon.kz (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
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