At least one more explosion has rocked the Pniowek coal mine in southern Poland, injuring rescuers trying to free miners trapped by suspected methane blasts early on Wednesday morning, the State Mining Authority (WUG) reported on Thursday evening.
Another explosion has hit the Pniowek coal mine in southern Poland injuring rescuers working to free miners trapped by suspected methane gas explosions early Wednesday morning, the State Mining Authority reported on Thursday evening.
A WUG representative told PAP, citing information from the Katowice Regional Mining Authority, that between the hours of 19.37 and 20.01 at least one further explosion, or perhaps two, had taken place in the area where the rescuers were working.
He said the rescue workers had withdrawn and that a doctor on site had said their condition was good. Some of them will be taken to hospital for tests, he said.
The official did not say how many rescuers were injured, but sources close to the rescue operation said there were over a dozen.
Early on Wednesday morning, five men – four miners and a rescuer – were killed in blasts at the Pniowek mine.
Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa (JSW), the owner of the mine, reported that methane gas had probably ignited just past midnight, about 1,000 metres underground. A second blast occurred when rescuers were in the area searching for missing miners.
In addition to the fatalities, a further six colliers were seriously injured and seven were left trapped in the mine.