Weather to Dampen Search After Deadly Ukraine Mine Blast

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

March 4,2015; 11:00PM,EST

 

 

The weather threatens to dampen search efforts in the wake of a deadly coal mine blast in eastern Ukraine.
At least 17 people are dead, according to the Associated Press, following a suspected gas explosion at the Zasyadko mine, located in the city of Donetsk.
The blast occurred during the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, local time, as 230 workers were in the mine. At least 198 workers have since been evacuated.
Miners arriving for work since the blast were asked to become part of the rescue operations, which the Associated Press states are being "hampered by limited access to the deep subterranean network."

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12:28 PM - 4 Mar 2015

A bit of rain and wet snow will also dampen search and rescue crews working outside of the mine into Wednesday night as a weak storm system moves through the region. This is not the more potent storm unleashing heavy rain and mountain snow across central Europe.
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Temperatures Wednesday night will drop down to near the freezing mark before rebounding to 5 to 6 C (lower 40s F) on Thursday as some sunshine returns.

This stock photo of the Zasyadko coal mine was taken on Dec. 30, 2007, and is courtesy of henrik_hallgren/Flickr.