A fire at a coal mine in Kazakhstan killed at least 25 workers and left 21 others missing on Saturday.
ArcelorMittal , the world’s largest steelmaker, has confirmed that 25 of its employees were killed and 21 others are still missing after a tragic accident at its Kostenco coal mine in Kazakhstan on Saturday.
The company said in a statement that 206 people were safely evacuated to the surface after the accident, which occurred earlier on the 28th October. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
“No words can adequately convey the devastation the company feels following this accident. Everything that can be done to support the families who have lost loved ones through this deeply painful time will be done,” the statement said.
The company also announced that it had signed a preliminary agreement with the government of Kazakhstan to transfer ownership of its Temirtau steel plant and iron-ore and coal mines to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The agreement was communicated earlier today by the government of Kazakhstan, which said that the decision was made in light of the “difficult situation” at ArcelorMittal Temirtau and the need to “ensure social stability and economic development” in the region.
ArcelorMittal said that it was committed to completing the transaction as soon as possible and that both parties were focused on an outcome that was in the best interests of the workers and the communities.
“ArcelorMittal is grateful for the support and cooperation of the government of Kazakhstan throughout this process and hopes that this transaction will provide a stable and prosperous future for Temirtau and its people,” the statement said.
This is not the first time that ArcelorMittal Temirtau has faced a deadly accident at its mines. In August, four workers were killed in a fire at the same mine, while in November 2022, five workers died after a methane leak at another mine.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared Oct. 29 as a national day of mourning and ordered an investigation into the safety violations at the mine. He also announced that the government had reached a preliminary agreement with ArcelorMittal to nationalize its subsidiary, citing its failure to meet investment obligations and repeated worker safety violations.
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