(CNN) -- At least 16 workers died in an explosion at a mine in eastern Ukraine on Friday, the Ministry of Emergency said.
Rescue teams are searching for nine missing miners.
The blast occurred more than 900 meters (half a mile) underground. At least three people were taken to a local hospital with serious burns.
The government has opened an investigation into the incident at the Sukhodilsk-Eastern coal mine in the Lugansk, the ministry said.
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