DUSHANBE, November 20, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon today sent a telegram of condolences to his Ukrainian counterpart, President Viktor Yushchenko, over a coal mine blast in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, which had killed dozens of miners, presidential press service said.   

In his message, President Emomali Rahmon also expressed his deep condolences to the families and friends of miners that were killed in the blast.   

The blast that took place in a coal mine in the Donetsk early in the morning on Sunday, killed more than 70 miners.   

Sunday''s blast, caused by a build-up of methane gas, occurred more than 1,000 meters  below ground in what was one of Ukraine''s worst accidents in years.  At least 360 of the more than 450 miners who were below ground when the explosion happened have now been rescued.