Ukraine gas blast 'kills 30' at Zasyadko coal mine

A suspected gas blast at a coal mine in a rebel-held region of east Ukraine has killed at least 30 people and left some 40 missing, officials said.

However, several rebel officials said later that they could not confirm the death toll at the Zasyadko mine in Donetsk.

At least 14 miners were also injured at Zasyadko, which saw Ukraine's worst mine disaster nearly eight years ago.

Anxious relatives of miners have gathered at the scene to await news.

Very little information has been given out about the situation of the trapped miners.

Donetsk saw heavy fighting between separatist rebels and government troops over the winter but a mine union official, Mikhail Volynets, told a Ukrainian TV channel there had been no fighting in the area in recent days.

While Ukraine's economy has significantly shrunk since the conflict began in April, many coal mines continue to operate in the conflict zone.

Before the conflict, accidents were common in the mines, where safety standards are poor.