Every year, families, colleagues, trade unionists, local authorities, and mine representatives gather to commemorate the victims of the devastating 2006 Halemba mine disaster in Ruda Śląska, Poland. This solemn occasion honours the memory of the 23 miners who tragically lost their lives in one of the deadliest accidents in Polish mining history.
A Day of Remembrance
On the morning of November 21, 2023, a memorial mass was held at the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Ruda Śląska-Halemba. The service began at 8:00 a.m., bringing together mourners to pray for the souls of the deceased miners. Following the mass, flowers were placed at a commemorative plaque in a nearby cemetery, a quiet yet powerful tribute to the victims.
A Catastrophe That Shook the Nation
The disaster occurred on November 21, 2006, in coal seam 506, which was slated for decommissioning. The miners were tasked with recovering equipment valued at 70 million PLN from the high-risk area, located 1,030 meters underground. Tragically, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a methane explosion triggered a secondary coal dust explosion, resulting in the deaths of 23 miners. The incident marked the most significant mining catastrophe in Poland in nearly three decades.