A gas leak occurred at a coal mine in Kyrgyzstan's Batken region, killing two people and sending 18 others to the hospital, The Caspian Post reports, citing press service of the republic's Ministry of Emergency Situations.

According to reports, the emergency occurred in the village of Samarkandek at the Batken Munai mine. Rescuers recovered the bodies of two dead miners from a depth of approximately 200 meters and handed them over to law enforcement. A third person was rescued.

Eighteen miners were treated at the district hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning. Their condition is assessed as satisfactory.