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| Collapsed Bosnia mine rescue called off with five workers still buried | Collapsed Bosnia mine rescue called off with five workers still buried |
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| Emergency workers have rescued 29 miners from a Bosnian coal mine after a small earthquake triggered a gas explosion on Thursday, but five others remain buried and are presumed dead. | |
| One by one, the freed men emerged on Friday from the Raspotocje mine, in the central town of Zenica, to cries of joy from their families after spending the night trapped more than 500 metres (1,600 ft) below the ground. The men looked tired and shaky but were not seriously injured. | One by one, the freed men emerged on Friday from the Raspotocje mine, in the central town of Zenica, to cries of joy from their families after spending the night trapped more than 500 metres (1,600 ft) below the ground. The men looked tired and shaky but were not seriously injured. |
| Esad Civic, the mine's manager, said the rescue effort had been halted after the 29 miners were pulled out. Rescuers said they were unable to reach the remaining men. | Esad Civic, the mine's manager, said the rescue effort had been halted after the 29 miners were pulled out. Rescuers said they were unable to reach the remaining men. |
| Alija Celebic, a retired miner, waited for his son Bego, who was among the 29 who escaped. "He was hurt in the mine just two weeks ago, and now this," Celebic said. "All is good as long as he is alive." | Alija Celebic, a retired miner, waited for his son Bego, who was among the 29 who escaped. "He was hurt in the mine just two weeks ago, and now this," Celebic said. "All is good as long as he is alive." |
| The union leader at the mine, Mehmed Oruc, said two tunnels collapsed on Thursday evening after a gas blast was triggered by a minor earthquake. He said 22 other miners managed to escape from the pit shortly after, two of whom were injured. | The union leader at the mine, Mehmed Oruc, said two tunnels collapsed on Thursday evening after a gas blast was triggered by a minor earthquake. He said 22 other miners managed to escape from the pit shortly after, two of whom were injured. |
| This was the third such incident at the mine this year. Sixteen miners were hurt in two previous gas explosions, the most recent less than four weeks ago. The mine was also the site of one of the greatest mining disasters in Bosnian history, when 39 workers were killed in a blast in 1982. | This was the third such incident at the mine this year. Sixteen miners were hurt in two previous gas explosions, the most recent less than four weeks ago. The mine was also the site of one of the greatest mining disasters in Bosnian history, when 39 workers were killed in a blast in 1982. |
| Families and union leaders accused the mine's managers of responding poorly to the latest collapse, particularly in initially claiming that only eight workers were trapped inside. Union leaders said authorities brought in rescue machinery some seven hours after the blast. | Families and union leaders accused the mine's managers of responding poorly to the latest collapse, particularly in initially claiming that only eight workers were trapped inside. Union leaders said authorities brought in rescue machinery some seven hours after the blast. |
| Civic, who rejected the claims, insisted that such accidents could not be avoided. But he conceded that the mine – once among the most modern in Europe – was now far below the world standard. | Civic, who rejected the claims, insisted that such accidents could not be avoided. But he conceded that the mine – once among the most modern in Europe – was now far below the world standard. |
| Muris Tutnjic, one of the miners who escaped on Thursday, returned to the site on Friday to show his support. He said the underground blast "just blew us away". "I was alone … Thank God I managed to pull myself out. My colleagues … they were some 200, 300, maybe 400 metres away from me; they got covered." | Muris Tutnjic, one of the miners who escaped on Thursday, returned to the site on Friday to show his support. He said the underground blast "just blew us away". "I was alone … Thank God I managed to pull myself out. My colleagues … they were some 200, 300, maybe 400 metres away from me; they got covered." |