<p>A methane explosion at a coal mine in central Kazakhstan killed at least five people and injured another four on Thursday, officials said.</p>.<p>"A sudden release of gas during the drilling of a drainage well led to the deaths of five workers" in the Lenin mine belonging to ArcelorMittal, Ruslan Imankulov, a spokesman for the country's emergency ministry, told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>Imankulov added that "four people were hospitalised and 106 were evacuated".</p>.<p>The mine is located in the resource-rich region of Karaganda, whose governor said the accident had been caused by an "explosion of methane" -- a gas that, when combined with a certain amount of oxygen, can combust.</p>.<p>An investigation into potential violations of safety rules has been opened by a government commission.</p>.<p>In a statement, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev offered his "condolences to the families and friends of the deceased workers", and wished a "speedy recovery to the injured".</p>.<p>Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic and Central Asia's leading economy, has significant deposits of oil, gas and coal, as well as uranium, manganese, iron and chromium.</p>.<p>Mine accidents are frequent in the countries of the former Soviet Union due to the dilapidation of facilities and a lax approach to safety.</p>
<p>A methane explosion at a coal mine in central Kazakhstan killed at least five people and injured another four on Thursday, officials said.</p>.<p>"A sudden release of gas during the drilling of a drainage well led to the deaths of five workers" in the Lenin mine belonging to ArcelorMittal, Ruslan Imankulov, a spokesman for the country's emergency ministry, told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>Imankulov added that "four people were hospitalised and 106 were evacuated".</p>.<p>The mine is located in the resource-rich region of Karaganda, whose governor said the accident had been caused by an "explosion of methane" -- a gas that, when combined with a certain amount of oxygen, can combust.</p>.<p>An investigation into potential violations of safety rules has been opened by a government commission.</p>.<p>In a statement, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev offered his "condolences to the families and friends of the deceased workers", and wished a "speedy recovery to the injured".</p>.<p>Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic and Central Asia's leading economy, has significant deposits of oil, gas and coal, as well as uranium, manganese, iron and chromium.</p>.<p>Mine accidents are frequent in the countries of the former Soviet Union due to the dilapidation of facilities and a lax approach to safety.</p>