Three days of mourning have been declared in Kazakhstan's Karaganda region after a blast at a local coal mine left at least seven people dead. The search for 23 missing miners has been temporarily called off due to the risk of another explosion.
Earlier, the deputy prime minister of the Central Asian republic said the chances of finding them alive were slim.
The gas explosion ripped through the Abay mine on Friday morning when about 200 people were working underground. 161 miners were rescued.
A fire broke out straight after the explosion and thick smoke and high temperatures are hampering rescue efforts.
Kazakhstan's government has asked Russia to help out in dealing with the aftermath of the blast and provide more experienced rescuers.
A criminal case has already been launched.
In 2006, an explosion ripped through another mine in the same area, killing more than 40 people.
In Ukraine, more than 700 miners in Donbass have been evacuated after a fire broke out on mine premises. The blaze was put out soon afterwards.
It's reported the incident happened on the surface of the mine, not underground.
Rescuers say all of the miners have been safely brought to the surface.
An investigation's is under way into the cause of the fire.