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Tremor kills four in Polish coal mine

24.04.2022 18:33
The death toll from a Saturday methane gas discharge in the Zofiówka coal mine has climbed to four, a Polish news agency has reported.
Polish coal mine Zofiówka
Polish coal mine ZofiówkaPAP/Zbigniew Meissner

At 3:40 on Saturday, a sudden tremor hit the coal mine in a zone where 52 miners were working on a night shift, according to a Polish state news agency PAP.

Forty-two of the miners were able to get out on their own, whilst rescue teams sprang into action to find the remaining ten who were trapped underground.

Up to now, the relief operation has reached four, all of whom have been pronounced dead. Six are still missing.

Due to the high concentration of methane and the high temperature, the rescue mission is moving slowly, PAP added.

It is yet another tragedy that struck a Polish coal mine this week. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Pniówek coal mine was shaken by a series of methane explosions that killed at least five.

The Zofiówka coal mine, based in the southern Polish city of Jastrzębie-Zdrój in Poland's Upper Silesia region, is part of the state-run JSW group, the country’s biggest coal producer.

(pjm)

Source: PAP