2009 Wujek-Śląsk mine blast
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Wujek-Śląsk mine blast occurred at the Wujek-Śląsk bituminous coal
mine in Ruda Śląska
, Poland
on 18 September 2009. At least 20 miners were killed (12 died in coal mine, 8 in hospitals) and at least 37 more were hospitalised. It is the country's deadliest mining accident since the deaths of 23 miners from methane at the Silesia
's Halemba mine in November 2006. The death toll is expected to increase.
s specialist unit in Siemianowice Śląskie
; six were hospitalised at Sosnowiec
where family members collected outside in an upset manner. Some of the deaths came quickly, whilst more did not die until some time later. Deaths were caused by burns, some of 90 degree proportions, with burns sustained to the respiratory tract
. Many will require psychological assistance as well if they are to fully recover from the incident. Production was stopped but the rest of the mine remained in operation. The fire was quenched. The probable cause is thought to be methane
ignition.
expressed his regrets: "On behalf of all Poles I convey the closest family members our sympathy and solidarity and join them in prayer and pain. I wish all the injured a quick return to health". Polish Minister of Interior and Administration
, Grzegorz Schetyna
, alongside a deputy minister of economy, greeted the families of those who died by visiting the region after the blast. Two days of national mourning will commence at 06:00 on 21 September 2009. Flags will be flown at half-mast. Several pre-scheduled events were called off as result of the disaster.
Bituminous coal
Bituminous coal or black coal is a relatively soft coal containing a tarlike substance called bitumen. It is of higher quality than lignite coal but of poorer quality than Anthracite...
mine in Ruda Śląska
Ruda Slaska
Ruda Śląska is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is a district in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, a metropolis with a population of 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river ....
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
on 18 September 2009. At least 20 miners were killed (12 died in coal mine, 8 in hospitals) and at least 37 more were hospitalised. It is the country's deadliest mining accident since the deaths of 23 miners from methane at the Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
's Halemba mine in November 2006. The death toll is expected to increase.
Incident
The incident happened approximately 1 kilometer below surface level. Around 40 people were underground at the time of the blast. Twenty-nine made it out themselves but the rest had to be assisted. Emergency services ferried the casualties to the nearest hospitals. Eighteen were hospitalised at a burnBurn
A burn is an injury to flesh caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation, or friction.Burn may also refer to:*Combustion*Burn , type of watercourses so named in Scotland and north-eastern England...
s specialist unit in Siemianowice Śląskie
Siemianowice Slaskie
Siemianowice Śląskie aka Siemianowice ; is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions...
; six were hospitalised at Sosnowiec
Sosnowiec
Sosnowiec is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a combined population of over two million people located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river .It is situated in...
where family members collected outside in an upset manner. Some of the deaths came quickly, whilst more did not die until some time later. Deaths were caused by burns, some of 90 degree proportions, with burns sustained to the respiratory tract
Respiratory tract
In humans the respiratory tract is the part of the anatomy involved with the process of respiration.The respiratory tract is divided into 3 segments:*Upper respiratory tract: nose and nasal passages, paranasal sinuses, and throat or pharynx...
. Many will require psychological assistance as well if they are to fully recover from the incident. Production was stopped but the rest of the mine remained in operation. The fire was quenched. The probable cause is thought to be methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
ignition.
Investigation
An investigation into the incident was quickly launched. President of Poland Lech KaczyńskiLech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
expressed his regrets: "On behalf of all Poles I convey the closest family members our sympathy and solidarity and join them in prayer and pain. I wish all the injured a quick return to health". Polish Minister of Interior and Administration
Ministry of Interior and Administration of the Republic of Poland
Ministry of the Interior and Administration is an administration structure controlling main administration and security branches of the Polish government. Current Minister is Jerzy Miller.-History and function:...
, Grzegorz Schetyna
Grzegorz Schetyna
Grzegorz Juliusz Schetyna is a Polish politician. He was elected to the Sejm as a candidate of the Civic Platform on September 25, 2005 after receiving 14,978 votes in 1 Legnica district...
, alongside a deputy minister of economy, greeted the families of those who died by visiting the region after the blast. Two days of national mourning will commence at 06:00 on 21 September 2009. Flags will be flown at half-mast. Several pre-scheduled events were called off as result of the disaster.