Visiting an emergency response centre in the southern city of Bytom, Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters that last week was "a black week for the Polish mining industry, for the Upper Silesia coal region and for Poland.”
12 dead, 11 missing after two mining accidents
Morawiecki said that six miners were now confirmed dead at Zofiówka, in addition to at least six deaths at the nearby Pniówek mine.
Moreover, four miners are still missing inside Zofiówka and seven workers remain trapped at Pniówek, according to officials.
"The events last week were especially tragic … they show the dangers inherent in the miners’ toil,” Morawiecki said.
He thanked all the rescue teams “for their dedication and courage.”
State help for victims' families
“Let me assure you that we won’t leave anyone alone,” the prime minister said.
"The children, families, wives and loved ones of the miners who lost their lives at Zofiówka and Pniówek will receive care," he pledged.
Disasters at Zofiówka and Pniówek mines
The Zofiówka mine was hit by a tremor in the early hours of Saturday when 52 miners were working underground.
Meanwhile, the Pniówek facility was rocked by a series of methane explosions last Wednesday and Thursday, affecting both the miners on duty and emergency teams sent to rescue them.
For safety reasons, the rescue mission at Pniówek was later suspended and the relief operation at Zofiówka is moving slowly, officials told reporters.
Both Zofiówka, based in the city of Jastrzębie-Zdrój, and Pniówek, located in nearby Pawłowice, are operated by the state-run JSW group, the country’s biggest coal producer.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, jsw.pl