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STONAVA, Czech Republic (Reuters) - A methane explosion killed 12 Poles and one Czech at an eastern Czech coal mine, the OKD mining company said on Friday, in the worst disaster of this kind in almost three decades. "We stopped underground work immediately, evacuated miners to the surface, and rescuers arrived who inspected the whole location thoroughly," OKD spokesman Ivo Celechovsky said on Czech public television. READ MORE: Over 40 injured in explosion at Japanese bar, officials warn another blast possible

A further 10 miners were injured in the explosion Thursday afternoon at the CSM mine near the town of Karvina. The Czech public television said three of the injured were still hospitalized in the city of Ostrava, with one of them in critical condition. On this difficult day, we strongly show our solidarity and sense of national community.”

OKD executive director Boleslav Kowalczyk said efforts to recover the bodies were continuing on Friday despite a fire in the mine. Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki and his Czech counterpart Andrej Babis have offered their condolences to the families of the victims. The Czech leader also said he would assess what assistance his government can provide during his visit to the site on Friday. READ MORE: Canada co-hosts ‘coal-free day’ at UN climate meeting in Poland

“I wish to express words of deepest sympathy to all the close victims of the mining disaster in Karvina,” Morawiecki said. "The blast at the CSM mine is a huge tragedy," Mr Babis tweeted. On this difficult day, we strongly show our solidarity and sense of national community.”

Polish president Andrzej Duda also expressed his condolences on Twitter, saying “O Lord, keep the families of the miners in your care.
At least 13 miners, eleven Poles and two Czechs, are killed and 10 injured in a methane explosion in a coal mine in Karvina, Czech Republic.