MOSCOW, 6 March. /TASS/. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has urgently formed an extra convoy with humanitarian aid for the families of miners killed in a methane blast at the Zasyadko mine and for Donetsk residents as well, the ministry’s spokesman told TASS on Friday.

"In line with the Russian president’s instruction on supplying families of killed and injured miners, the Russian Emergencies Ministry has completed forming an extra convoy with humanitarian aid and it is ready to set off to Donbas," Alexander Drobyshevsky said specifying that the convoy consisted of over 20 vehicles loaded with 200 tons of humanitarian aid — foodstuffs and medicines.

"The convoy has been formed in the Donskoy rescue center urgently and a part of the cargo has been airlifted," he said recalling that staff members of the Russian Emergencies Ministry — mine rescuers, doctors and psychologists — were working in Donetsk to render help to the families of victims.

On Wednesday morning a blast, supposedly caused by methane outburst, hit the Zasyadko mine where 230 miners were underground at the moment, leaving 33 out of them dead. Another 15 injured were hospitalized.

A search and rescue operation ended on Thursday night.