Thirteen men have been confirmed dead and another twenty two are still missing following an explosion at the Gloria Coal Mine near Middelburg in Mpumalanga State, South Africa, on Monday 4 February 2019. The dead and missing men are part of a group of 42 Lesotho nationals who entered the mine, which has been closed since September 2018 when its parent company went into administration, with the intention of stealing copper wiring. Some time after the men entered the mine they triggered a methane explosion, trapping the majority of them below the ground. Initial rescue attempts were able to recover six bodies, but were hampered by much of the mine having been flooded with highly toxic carbon monoxide gas, with attempts to flush this from the mine hindered by damage done to the mine's ventilation system by the removal of copper wiring. Another seven bodies were recovered on Thursday 14 February, following restoration of power to part of the ventilation system, and another attempt to enter the mine will be made today (16 February), though it is estimated that restoring full ventilation to the mine will cost around R310 million (US$22 million), with much of the rescue work being carried out by workers at the mine who have not been paid since October.
Mine rescue specialists discuss plans to re-enter the Gloria Coal Mine near Middelburg with government officials this week. Gwede Mantashe/Twitter.
Coal is formed when buried organic material, principally wood, in heated
and pressurised, forcing off hydrogen and oxygen (i.e. water) and
leaving more-or-less pure carbon. Methane is formed by the decay of
organic material within the coal. There is typically little pore-space
within coal, but the methane can be trapped in a liquid form under
pressure. Some countries have started to extract this gas as a fuel in
its own right. When this pressure is released suddenly, as by mining
activity, then the methane turns back to a gas, expanding rapidly
causing, an explosion. This is a bit like the pressure being released on
a carbonated drink; the term 'explosion' does not necessarily imply
fire in this context, although as methane is flammable this is quite
likely.
Relatives of the trapped men gathered outside the Gloria Coal Mine near Middleburg this week. Findall News.
Coal is also comprised more or less of pure carbon, and therefore reacts
freely with oxygen (particularly when in dust form), to create carbon
dioxide and (more-deadly) carbon monoxide, while at the same time
depleting the supply of oxygen. This means that subterranean coal mines
need good ventilation systems, and that fatalities can occur if these
break down.
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