Government starts meeting with moment of silence in honor of Karaganda miners

Kazakh Government started its meeting on Tuesday with a moment of silence to pay tribute to the miners killed in the Kostenko mine tragedy in Karaganda region this past weekend, Kazinform News Agency reports. 

Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov extended condolences to the bereaved families on behalf of the Government and on his personal behalf.

He vowed the families of the deceased and injured miners will get all necessary assistance.

Recall that the explosion rocked the Kostenko mine owned by ArcelorMittal Temirtau in Karaganda region on October 28 and then sparked the fire in the mine. After the blast more than 200 miners were evacuated from the mine to safety. The blast killed 46 miners.

The Prosecutor General’s Office launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was in Karaganda region where he expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the miners and ordered to halt investment cooperation with ArcelorMittal Temirtau.

At the instruction of the Head of State, the commission appointed Vadim Bassin, the first deputy akim (governor) of Karaganda region, as the interim director general of JSC ArcelorMittal Temirtau.

Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov was named as the head of the governmental commission to determine the causes and mitigate the consequences of the blast and fire in the Kostenko mine.

President Tokayev declared a national day of mourning on Sunday, October 29.

Foreign leaders poured in their condolences on the occasion of the deadly tragedy in Karaganda region.