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Gleision deaths: 650,000 gallons of water flooded mine Gleision deaths: 650,000 gallons of water flooded mine
(about 1 hour later)
Around 650,000 gallons of water swept through a working area of a Swansea Valley mine in seconds following a blast, Swansea Crown Court has heard.Around 650,000 gallons of water swept through a working area of a Swansea Valley mine in seconds following a blast, Swansea Crown Court has heard.
David Powell, 50, Charles Breslin, 62, Philip Hill, 44, and Garry Jenkins, 39, died as a result of the incident at Gleision pit in September 2011.David Powell, 50, Charles Breslin, 62, Philip Hill, 44, and Garry Jenkins, 39, died as a result of the incident at Gleision pit in September 2011.
The jury heard how the detonation of the explosives opened up a path for water from old mine workings.The jury heard how the detonation of the explosives opened up a path for water from old mine workings.
Mine owners MNS and manager Malcolm Fyfield deny manslaughter charges.Mine owners MNS and manager Malcolm Fyfield deny manslaughter charges.
The jury watched a DVD on Friday morning which the prosecution claimed showed what happened.The jury watched a DVD on Friday morning which the prosecution claimed showed what happened.
As a blast to extract coal was detonated, water rushed in flushing away roof supports and sweeping through a working stall in to a roadway, depositing debris in its path. As a blast to extract coal was detonated, water rushed in flushing away roof supports and sweeping through a working stall in to a roadway, leaving debris in its path.
The quantity of water was slightly more than the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, the jury was told. The quantity of water - nearly 3 million litres - was slightly more than the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, the jury was told.
Blocked
The jury has also heard how mine workers had drilled a hole in a wall on the day before the disaster as production moved towards the old workings and water began to flow through "like a tap half turned on".
The prosecution claim the men had been concerned about moving towards the old workings, but because the amount of water trickling through the hole was small they did not think it was a problem and believed the water would be gone by Thursday, 15 September.
The court heard that Mr Fyfield assessed the hole on the Thursday morning and found there was a "minimal amount" of water there.
But the prosecution said this was because the hole had been blocked with silt and coal sediments from the large body of water on the other side that had gathered in the old workings since 1984.
The jury also heard that shot firing regulations state the workers should have been at least 100m away from the wall when the explosives were detonated. But the court was told that on a daily basis the men would only withdraw by maybe 30m.
The prosecution said when the men knew they could be breaking through to the old workings "those regulations should have been complied with to the letter".
The court heard it was likely the shots were fired by Philip Hill but Mr Fyfield had overall responsibility for what happened in the mine. The prosecution claimed no special risk assessment was carried out and the day seemed to have been like any other.
Mr Fyfield was described in court as a "hands on" manager and was very safety conscious and it was how he was known in the industry.
The trial opened on Thursday when the jury was told the sound of the underground blast at the Gleision pit was "like a jet engine".The trial opened on Thursday when the jury was told the sound of the underground blast at the Gleision pit was "like a jet engine".
Three men, including manager Mr Fyfield, 58, escaped from the mine near Pontardawe.Three men, including manager Mr Fyfield, 58, escaped from the mine near Pontardawe.
The trial has heard Mr Fyfield had been in charge of the mine for 10 weeks before the explosion in September 2011.The trial has heard Mr Fyfield had been in charge of the mine for 10 weeks before the explosion in September 2011.
The jury heard that post-mortem examinations found all the miners' lungs were blocked by water contaminated with coal and silt.
The jury has been told Mr Fyfield still suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from the incident and will not sit in the dock for the duration of the trial.
Two directors of MNS mining also deny four charges of corporate manslaughter.Two directors of MNS mining also deny four charges of corporate manslaughter.
The trial is due to last until at least the end of June.The trial is due to last until at least the end of June.