Methane Eruption at Poland Coal Mine Leaves Two Miners Dead
The tragedy unfolded at the Pniowek coal mine within the Silesian coal belt, occurring inside a freshly excavated passageway positioned nearly 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) beneath the surface—among the operation's deepest active zones, media reported.
State-owned mining giant Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa (JSW), which operates the facility, confirmed that monitoring equipment registered an abrupt methane gas discharge combined with fragmented rock material shortly past 5 pm local time (1600GMT).
A 10-person crew was operating a high-capacity roadheader excavation machine within the tunnel when the eruption struck. Eight personnel successfully evacuated independently, though communication ceased with two colleagues.
Emergency response teams conducted approximately six hours of search operations before discovering the missing workers' locations. Medical personnel present at the scene declared both individuals deceased.
The deceased miners, ages 40 and 41, each possessed over a decade of mining sector expertise, the company confirmed.
These latest casualties elevate Poland's 2024 mining death count to 15, with 12 fatalities occurring specifically in hard coal operations, based on industry statistics.
Pniowek ranks among Poland's most methane-saturated coal facilities, substantially amplifying underground explosion hazards.
Authorities have established a specialized investigative commission to determine the incident's causation and surrounding circumstances.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk conveyed sympathies to bereaved families via the U.S. social media platform X, noting that corporate leadership had guaranteed relatives access to psychological counseling and financial assistance.
Energy Minister Milosz Motyka similarly extended condolences while committing government support to affected families.
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