Thirty-three miners dead after pit blast in east Ukraine

Miners enter an elevator to go down at the Zasyadko coal mine in Donetsk March 4, 2015. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Thirty-three miners were confirmed dead late on Wednesday after a coal mine blast in the rebel-held city of Donetsk near the battle front in eastern Ukraine, indicating no one trapped in the rubble survived.

Mine officials said the explosion was most likely caused by gas and not fighting in the war between Moscow-backed rebels and Ukraine government forces. Nevertheless, Kiev suggested the war had made the disaster worse, accusing the separatists of holding up a rescue effort by restricting access.