Rescue workers have called off the search for 23 missing miners after a gas explosion in Kazakhstan, putting the final death toll in the accident at 30, officials said Sunday.
The Interfax agency cited Kazakh Civil Defence Minister Vladimir Boshko, visiting the site at the city of Karaganda, as saying that the shaft where the explosion took place had now filled up with water.
The methane gas explosion in the mine belonging to steel giant ArcelorMittal took place on Friday. Seven miners were initially declared dead and 161 miners were rescued, but 23 remained missing. ( Dpa )