Twenty one confirmed fatalities following explosion at Colombian coal mine.

Twenty one miners have now been confirmed following an explosion at a coal mine in Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, on Tuesday 14 March 2023. The explosion reportedly caused several of the mine's entrances to collapse, trapping 30 workers below ground. After 30 hours digging through the debris, rescue workers were able to recover nine miners alive. The Colombian mining industry is notoriously dangerous, with 146 miners having died in 117 incidents in the year 2022.

Rescue workers at a coal mine in Colombia, following an underground explosion which killed 21 people on Tuesday 14 March 2023. Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters.

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.

Fire is much feared in coal mines due to this combination of flammable gas and solids, with methane and coal dust both potentially explosive when they come into contact with naked flames. To make matters worse, the limited oxygen supply in mines often means that such fires will involve incomplete combustion, in which all the oxygen is used up, but instead of forming carbon dioxide forms the much more deadly carbon dioxide, with potentially lethal consequences for anyone in the mine.

As coal is 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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Russian mine safely evacuates 128 employees after a rise in carbon monoxide is detected.

A mine in Kemerovo Oblast in southwest Siberia has safely evacuated 128 miners who were working below ground when a rise in carbon monoxide was detected on Sunday 19 December 2021. The sudden increase triggered concerns that a fire might be burning within the mine (coal, which is essentially pure carbon, usually burns to produce carbon dioxide, but when the oxygen supply is limited, as in an underground mine, incomplete combustion can result in the production of the more deadly carbon monoxide). However, the owners of the Ruban Mine have found no evidence of a fire, and now believe the gas was emitted directly from the coal following a rise in temperature within the mine.

 

Russian emergency workers attending a mine in Kemerovo Oblast following the detection of a rise in carbon monoxide levels, which provoked concerns about the risks of an underground fire. Generico.

Coal is formed when buried organic material, principally wood, in heated and pressurized, 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.

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.

While this incident resulted in no harm, with employees being safely evacuated from a potential threat, which is good practice in mine safety management, the Russian Emergencies Ministry has raised concerns about mine safety in Kemerovo Oblast, following an explosion at the Listvyazhnaya Mine which killed 51 people in November, with one of the mine's owners subsequently being arrested on suspicion of falsifying data on methane emissions within the mine. Kemerovo Oblast was also the location of the worst mining disaster in post-Soviet Russian history, when an explosion at the Ulyanovskaya Mine killed more than 100 people.

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Thirteen killed in two separate incidents at coal mines in Balochistan Province, Pakistan.

Eleven miners and two rescue workers have been killed in two separate incidents at coal mines in Balochistan Province, Pakistan, within the last week. On Thursday 11 March 2021, eight miners working 300 m below ground at a mine in the town of Marwār, close to the border with Afghanistan, were buried following a methane explosion. Two of these miners were later dug out alive, but the remaining six died. On Monday 15 March five miners entered a mine near Tor Ghar in Harnai District, to carry out repair work following a fire, also thought to have been caused by a methane build-up. All five miners were overcome by fumes within the mine and died, as did two rescue workers who entered the mine after them.

 

Rescue workers at a mine in Harnai District, Balochistan, where seven people died this week. Al Jazeera.

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.

Fire is much feared in coal mines due to this combination of flammable gas and solids, with methane and coal dust both potentially explosive when they come into contact with naked flames. To make matters worse, the limited oxygen supply in mines often means that such fires will involve incomplete combustion, in which all the oxygen is used up, but instead of forming carbon dioxide forms the much more deadly carbon dioxide, with potentially lethal consequences for anyone in the mine.

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.  

The coal industry in Balochistan is notoriously dangerous, with extensive deposits of coal, much of which is rich in methane, and a large coal industry, where safety standards are generally very low, with miners having little access to specialist training or equipment. Four miners were killed in a methane explosion in Harnai District in February 2021, and the Balochistan Coal Mines Workers Federation has recorded 102 fatalities in mines in the province in the past year. The situation is made more complicated by an insurgency being waged by Balochistan nationalists, who wish to unite Balochistan Province with Sistan and Baluchestan Province in Iran and the Balochistan region of southern Afghanistan into a new, independent, state, and who sometimes carry out attacks on projects such as mines, which they see as exploiting the region's wealth for the benefit of outside interests.

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Sixteen fatalities caused by mine fire in Chongqing, China.

Sixteen miners have died and one is being treated in hospital following a fire at a coal mine in the Municipality of Chongqing in southwest China on Sunday 27 September 2020. The fire is understood to have broken out at the Songzao Mine on a conveyer belt used to carry coal from the excavation front to the surface. This ignited coal dust in the mine, which is more or less pure carbon, which reacted with oxygen in the atmosphere to produce deadly carbon monoxide gas (carbon usually produces carbon dioxide when it burns, but within coal mines, where there is abundant carbon, in a powdered form, and a limited supply of oxygen, then incomplete combustion often occurs, resulting in the formation of the much more deadly carbon monoxide). The cause of the incident is still being investigated, but it is understood that the mine had previously been fined for breached of safety regulations.

 

Rescue workers at the Songzao Coal Mine in Chongqing on Sunday 27 September 2020. Associated Press.

Coal is formed when buried organic material, principally wood, in heated and pressurized, 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.

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.

China gains 70% of its energy from coal-burning power stations, which places the country under great pressure to maintain coal supplies. This has led to a poor safety record within the mining sector, particularly in the private sector, where there is a culture of seeking quick profits in poorly regulated (and sometimes officially non-existent) mines.  However, the Chinese authorities have been making efforts to remedy this situation, introducing safety regulations and closing (or at least attempting to close) mines that fail to comply. Annual deaths in Chinese mines have steadily fallen from 6995 in 2002 to 316 in 2019.

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Explosion at coal mine in northern Colombia kills at least six.

Six miners have been confirmed dead and another three are missing following an explosion at a coal mine in the Municipality of El Zulia in the Norte de Santander Department of Colombia, on Friday 31 July 2020. Local authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion, which has not been confirmed at this time, but which is thought likely to have been related to a build-up of methane gas in the mine.

The approximate location of the 31 July 2020 El Zulia coal mine explosion. Google Maps.

Coal is formed when buried organic material, principally wood, in heated and pressurized, 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.

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 dioxide, 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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Explosion at Queensland coal mine injures five.

Four workers are described as being in critical conditions and a fifth is described as being seriously injured following an explosion at a coal mine in Queensland on Wednesday 6 May 2020. The men were working at the longwall face (site of excavation) of the Anglo-American operated Grosvenor Coal Mine at Moranbah in the Isaac Region of central Queensland at the time of the incident, and were subsequently airlifted to a specialist burns unit at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. All operations at the mine have been halted pending an investigation by the Queensland Government.

Injured mineworkers from Moranbah being evacuated to Brisbane for specialist medical attention. ABC News.

Coal is formed when buried organic material, principally wood, in heated and pressurized, 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.

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 dioxide, 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.

The Grosvenor Coal Mine is well known to have a problem with mine gas, with the coal deposits there often described as 'gassy', which had led to several previous incidents at the mine, as well as repeated concerns about workers safety being raised by the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union. The union has also raised concerns about the number of workers being hired via agencies, on short term contracts with reduced rights, which can make workers feel unable to speak up about health and safety issues.

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Three dead at Nickel Mine in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia.

Three miners have been found dead at the Nornickel-operated Taimyr Nickel mine in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Siberia. The men were discovered 1345 m bellow the ground in the 1532 m deep mine on the Taimyr Peninsula, within the Arctic Peninsula, at about 4.30 pm local time on Tuesday 22 October 2019, having apparently asphyxiated. One of the dead men had apparently set out to look for the others after they had initially gone missing. All three were carrying unused breathing equipment, suggesting that they were caught unaware by the gas that killed them. There was no sign of any collapse within the mine.

The Taimyr Nickel mine in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Siberia. Russia Travel Blog.

The cause of the incident has yet to be determined. Pockets of gas, which can be exposed by blasting or other excavation activity are a problem in all underground mines. Typically when a seam containing pressurised gas is cut into it bursts, releasing the pressure and throwing large blocks of coal into the faces of the miners, often with fatal results. Thus although the gas involved is flammable it does not actually need to ignite to cause fatalities. However gas can seep into mines less dramatically, with potentially fatal consequences if it is not noticed. Mine gas is more usually associated with coal pits, where it is produced by compression of the coal, driving of volatile organic compounds, but can affect other forms of mine.

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Explosion kills four miners in Balochistan Province, Pakistan.

Four workers died in a gas explosion at a mine in Balochistan Province, Pakistan, on the morning of Sunday 3 June 2018. The men were among nine who were below ground at the time of the explosion, which occurred in the Sinjawi area. Three of the men were killed in the initial blast, with the fourth dying later of his injuries, three other miners are still being treated for of their injuries. The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Rahman, Yar Khan, Badsha Wazir and Ghulam Mohammad.

The approximate location of the Sinjawi Coal Mine. Google Maps.

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.

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 dioxide, 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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