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Poland mine toll rises to 21 dead No survivors in Polish mine blast
(about 1 hour later)
Rescuers at a Polish coalmine have found the bodies of 13 more miners, bringing the death toll from a methane gas explosion on Tuesday to 21. Rescuers at a Polish coal mine have found the bodies of 15 miners, ending hopes of finding any survivors from an underground explosion on Tuesday.
Two other miners who were trapped by the methane blast are still missing. It takes the final death toll to 23, making this the worst mine accident in Poland for many years.
Efforts to save the men in the colliery in Ruda Slaska, about 300 km (190 miles) south-west of Warsaw, have been hindered by bad underground conditions. "This brings to an end this very sad day," said a spokesman for the state-run coal company, at the scene.
Anxious relatives gathered at the pit head awaiting news while emergency workers tried to reach the men. The mine shaft had been closed in March because of high gas levels, but the men were retrieving expensive equipment
About 70 rescuers worked through the night to try to clear 500m (1,640ft) of rubble to reach the men trapped about 1,000m (3,300ft) underground. The team of miners, aged between 21 and 59, had been sent to retrieve equipment worth $23m (17.9m euros; £12.1m), the company said.
Work had to be suspended earlier in the day amid fears of another explosion after rescuers encountered high concentrations of methane gas. It is not clear whether the men died in the initial blast or whether they died afterward, rescue officials said.
There is fear. This could have happened to any of us Krzysztof Przybyla Miner href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6173678.stm" class="">In pictures: Relatives wait A lack of oxygen and temperatures reaching 40C also hindered the effort. President Lech Kaczynski, who visited the site on Wednesday, met grieving family members and pledged a full investigation into the accident.
"The conditions down there are extreme. It is hell. It is impossible to breathe in the area of the explosion, the ventilation has been destroyed," said Zbigniew Madej, a spokesman for the state-owned coal company. Efforts to save the men in the colliery in Ruda Slaska, about 300 km (190 miles) south-west of Warsaw, had been hindered by bad underground conditions.
Grzegorz Pawlaszek, head of the state-owned company, said the mine shaft had been closed in March because of high gas levels, but the miners were retrieving equipment worth $23m (17.9m euros; £12.1m) that had been left behind. Work had to be suspended for several hours on Wednesday amid fears of another explosion after rescuers encountered high concentrations of methane gas. A lack of oxygen and temperatures reaching 40C also hindered the effort.
The blast happened at about 1630 local time (1530 GMT) on Tuesday. It was probably caused by methane gas, officials said. Tuesday's blast was probably caused by methane gas, officials said.
Priests have been counselling distressed relatives who gathered at the mine after news of the incident became known.
The mine is in Silesia, the heartland of the Polish coal industry.The mine is in Silesia, the heartland of the Polish coal industry.
Safety conditions in Polish mines have improved since communist times, correspondents say, but unions have often complained of poor investment in the industry. More than 80 miners have died in the country since 2003. An explosion at the Halemba pit in 1990 killed 19 miners.Safety conditions in Polish mines have improved since communist times, correspondents say, but unions have often complained of poor investment in the industry. More than 80 miners have died in the country since 2003. An explosion at the Halemba pit in 1990 killed 19 miners.
Are you in the area near the mine? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in the area near the mine? Send us your comments using the form below.
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