According to JSW, a methane ignition likely occurred Wednesday morning in a coal seam more than 850 meters underground. Anna Swiniarska-Tadla, spokesperson for the State Mining Authority, confirmed that at least 12 miners were injured and transported to the surface, where medical services were on standby.
"There are no fatalities—44 miners were in the affected area, and all have been evacuated. At least 12 are receiving medical assistance or being transported to hospitals," JSW's press office reported later in the morning.
Update: New details on the injured and hospitalized in the Polish mine explosion.
Based on the latest information shared during a press conference by Łukasz Pach, director of the Regional Emergency Medical Service in Katowice, 16 people received medical assistance after the methane ignition, and 14 individuals required hospitalization.
One of the injured miners is still being transported to the surface and may be airlifted to a hospital.
A helicopter from the Polish Medical Air Rescue service has also been deployed to assist in the rescue operations.
Zdarzenie w kopalni "Knurów-Szczygłowice" ruch "Szczygłowice". Według wstępnych informacji najprawdopodobniej doszło do...
Opublikowany przez NSZZ "Solidarność" KWK "Knurów-Szczygłowice" Środa, 22 stycznia 2025
According to the Polish state news agency PAP, methane, the main component of natural gases in coal seams, can form an explosive mixture with air at concentrations of 4-15%, and its ignition or explosion is one of the most common causes of mining disasters.
In the southern coal mines of Poland, methane ignitions occur without serious consequences, as the burning of the gas does not cause an explosion or blast, but requires a spark, such as from machinery or rock collisions.
Source: PAP/IAR/X/@PGG_SA/Facebook.com/NSZZ "Solidarność" KWK "Knurów-Szczygłowice"
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