ASTANA, October 28. /TASS/. The death toll in an accident at the ArcelorMittal-operated Kostenko coal mine in central Kazakhstan has increased to 28, with the search for another 18 miners ongoing, the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry reported.

Earlier reports said 21 people had been killed in the accident.

"As of 3:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m. GMT), the bodies of 28 miners have been found. The search for another 18 miners is continuing," the ministry said in a statement.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered the cabinet to halt investment cooperation with ArcelorMittal Temirtau, the republic’s largest miner, in the wake of the accident.

The Kazakh government has reached a preliminary agreement with ArcelorMittal Temirtau shareholders, and the deal to transfer the company’s ownership to the Republic of Kazakhstan is currently being finalized.