A fire at a coal mine owned by ArcelorMittal in Kazakhstan has resulted in the death of at least 28 workers, with over 20 still missing. According to the Ministry for Emergency Situations, a methane blast occurred at the Kostenko mine, leading to the evacuation of 206 out of 252 individuals, with 18 requiring medical assistance. As of 2pm, 21 people were still unaccounted for. ArcelorMittal Temirtau, the local representative of global steel producer ArcelorMittal, operates multiple coal and iron ore mines in the Karaganda region and other parts of Kazakhstan. This incident marks the latest in a series of workplace fatalities at ArcelorMittal Temirtau sites, which has prompted the Kazakh government to terminate its investment partnership with the company. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and declared a national day of mourning. The government is currently finalizing a deal to nationalize the company, including the country’s largest steel mill. ArcelorMittal confirmed the discussions and expressed its commitment to completing the transaction to minimize disruption. Talks with potential investors to take over the mill are also underway, as the government has been dissatisfied with ArcelorMittal’s failure to meet investment obligations, upgrade equipment, and ensure worker safety following a series of deadly accidents.