At Least 11 Dead In ArcelorMittal Mine Fire In Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has ordered a halt to cooperation with ArcelorMittal after a mine operated by the global steel giant experienced a deadly fire resulting in the loss of at least 11 lives, as reported by AFP.

A statement from regional authorities confirmed, "A fire broke out at the Kostenko mine, resulting in the deaths of 11 people, while 18 victims with various degrees of injury were taken to the hospital. Out of the 252 miners present at the time of the tragedy, 205 miners were brought to the surface." However, ArcelorMittal reported 16 fatalities.

This mine is situated near the town of Karaganda, an industrial region in central Kazakhstan. Sadly, this marks the second fatal incident at an ArcelorMittal-operated site in the past two months. In August, another ArcelorMittal-operated mine in Kazakhstan witnessed the loss of five miners' lives.

President Tokayev had previously issued warnings to ban ArcelorMittal from operating in Kazakhstan. ArcelorMittal stands as the world's second-largest steel producer and was created following the acquisition of the previous entity Arcelor by Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal's Mittal Steel in 2006.