At least 16 miners were killed and two others were injured in a blast at a coal mine in eastern Ukraine in the wee hours of Friday, authorities said.

The explosion went off at the Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya mine in the Lugansk region and a total of 28 miners were working there at the time, the emergency ministry said in a statement, adding that its minister is coordinating the rescue efforts.

The two injured were hospitalized with burns and injuries, it said.

The cause of the blast was not immediately known as an investigation is underway.