A mining accident is an accident that occurs during the process of mining minerals or metals. Thousands of miners die from mining accidents each year, especially from underground coal mining, although accidents also occur in hard rock mining. Coal mining is considered much more hazardous than hard rock mining due to flat-lying rock strata, generally incompetent rock, the presence of methane gas, and coal dust. Most of the deaths these days occur in developing countries, and rural parts of developed countries where safety measures are not practiced as fully. A mining disaster is an incident where there are five or more fatalities.
Causes Mining accidents can occur from a variety of causes, including leaks of poisonous gases such as hydrogen sulfide or explosive natural gases, especially firedamp or methane, dust explosions, collapsing of mine stopes, mining-induced seismicity, flooding, or general mechanical errors from improperly used or malfunctioning mining equipment (such as safety lamps or electrical equipment). The use of improper explosives underground can also cause methane and coal dust explosions.
Worst mining disaster in history
On April 26, 1942, in the Benxihu (Honkeiko) coal mine in Liaoning Province, China, what is believed to be the worst mining disaster in history occurred when a coal dust explosion killed over 1,500 people.
The disaster occurred in an area that is now within the borders of modern-day China but was at the time part of the puppet state of Manchukuo established by Japan after it invaded and occupied northeast China in the 1930s. The Japanese administrators of the mine forced Chinese labourers to conduct the mining work under harsh conditions. The disaster began with a fire in the mine. In order to suppress it, the Japanese operators cut off the air in the ventilation shafts and blocked off the mine so as to deprive the blaze of oxygen. Most workers were not evacuated before these actions, and they were trapped within the sealed-off area of the mine; they suffocated to death as the fire burned off oxygen and led to carbon monoxide poisoning. Once the fire died out and the mine was re-opened, ten days were required for workers to remove debris and reach the bodies of those who had been trapped inside the mine.
The dead consisted of 1,518 Chinese and 31 Japanese. Most of the bodies were later buried in a mass grave. After the war and liberation of China by the Soviet Union, the disaster was investigated. The Soviet report concluded that the majority of the deaths were not caused directly by the initial fire but were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning and suffocation resulting from the decisions of the Japanese.
Accidents by year
This is an incomplete list of notable mining accidents and disasters that have killed at least 10 persons:
19th century
+DateDisasterLocationTypeDeath tollReferencesFelling Colliery disaster Felling, Englandcoal dust explosion92 1824 Saint-Louis coal mine disaster Champagney, Francefiredamp explosion20Bignall Hill 1836 Bignall Hill, Englandfiredamp explosion11Haswell mine disaster Haswell, Englandblackdamp explosion95Black Vein Colliery explosion Risca, Walesaccidental explosion35East Wheal Rose disaster East Wheal Rose, Englandflooding39Ince Hall Colliery disaster Ince-in-Makerfield, Englandunderground gas explosion50Cymmer Colliery explosion Cymmer, Walesunderground gas explosion114 Lundhill Colliery explosion Wombwell, Englandfiredamp explosion189Black Vein Colliery explosion Risca, Walesmethane gas explosionHartley Colliery disaster New Hartley, Englandfracture of pumping engine beam204Oaks explosion Hoyle Mill, Englandfiredamp explosion361Talke o' the Hill Colliery explosion Talke, Englandunderground gas explosion89First Ferndale Colliery disaster Ferndale, Walesunderground gas explosion178Santa Elisa Mine disaster Belmez, Spainunderground gas explosion29Second Ferndale Colliery disaster Ferndale, Walesunderground gas explosion53Avondale Mine disaster Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania, United Statesfire110Pelsall Hall Colliery disaster Pelsall, Englandsulfur explosion 22Drummond Colliery Disaster Westville, Canadafiredamp explosion70Astley Deep Pit disaster Dukinfield, Englandfiredamp explosion54Bunker's Hill Colliery explosion Stoke-on-Trent, Englandmethane gas explosion43 New Tredegar Colliery explosion Bedwellty, Walesfiredamp explosion23Llan Colliery disaster Gwaelod-y-Garth, Walesfiredamp explosion16Swaithe Main Colliery Explosion Barnsley, Englandfiredamp explosion143 Bochnia Salt mine fire Bochnia, Austrian Polandfire121877 Blantyre mining disaster Blantyre, Scotlandfiredamp explosion207Wood Pit disaster Haydock, Englandunderground gas explosion189Abercarn colliery disaster Abercarn, Walesfiredamp explosion268 Dinas Colliery Explosion Llantrisant, Walesunderground gas explosion63Döllinger Mine disaster Dux, Bohemiawater leak23Kaitangata Mine disaster Kaitangata, New Zealandfiredamp explosion34Victoria Colliery Stanley Pit explosion Wakefield, Englandfiredamp explosion211879 Blantyre mining disaster Blantyre, Scotlandunderground gas explosion28Magny shaft disaster Magny-Danigon, Francefiredamp explosion16 Sowcrofts colliery explosion Kearsley, Englandunderground gas explosion11Lady Fair Pit explosion Leycett, Englandfiredamp explosion62Risca New Colliery disaster Wattsville, Walesunderground gas explosionSeaham Colliery explosions Seaham, Englandunderground explosion 160 Seaham Colliery disaster report Durham Mining MuseumLudmiła Coal Mine disasterSosnowiec, Congress PolandfloodingFoord Pit explosion Stellarton, Canadafiredamp explosionNaval Colliery Explosion Tonypandy, Walesunderground gas explosion101First Almy Mine disaster Almy, Wyoming, United Statesunderground gas explosion38Rockslide of Elm Elm, Switzerlandrockslide115Trimdon Grange Explosion Trimdon Grange, Englandunderground gas explosion69First West Stanley Pit disaster West Stanley, Englandfiredamp explosion13New Australasian Gold Mine disaster Creswick, Victoria, Australiaflooding22 Diamond Mine Disaster Braidwood, Illinois, United Statesflooding74Moorfield Colliery disaster Altham, Englandfiredamp explosion68 Jokerville Mine Explosion Crested Butte, Colorado, United Statesmethane gas explosion59Laurel Mine explosion Pocahontas, Virginia, United Statescoal dust explosion112First Anina mine disaster Anina, Hungaryfire47Clifton Hall Colliery disaster Clifton, Englandfiredamp explosion178Mardy Colliery disaster Rhondda Cynon Taf, Walesunderground gas explosion81Second Almy Mine disaster Almy, Wyoming, United Statesunderground gas explosion11Bedford Colliery disaster Bedford, Englandfiredamp explosion38National Colliery 1887 disaster Wattstown, Walesunderground gas explosion39La Boule, Borinage La Boule, Borinage, Belgiummethane gas explosion120 Bulli Colliery explosion Bulli, New South Wales, Australiaunderground gas explosion811887 Nanaimo mine explosion Nanaimo, Canadaimproper use of explosives150 Udston mining disaster Hamilton, Scotlandfiredamp explosion73 Australian Agricultural Co. mine disaster Hamilton, New South Wales, Australiaroof collapse 11Mauricewood Colliery disaster Penicuik, Scotlandfire63White Ash Mine disaster Golden, Colorado, United Statesflooding10Mossfield Colliery explosion Longton, Englandcoal dust explosion64Hill Farm Mine Fire Dunbar, Pennsylvania, United Statesunderground gas explosion31Mammoth Mine disaster Mount Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania, United Statesunderground gas explosion109Springhill Mine Disaster Springhill, Canadacoal dust explosion125Pratt No. 1 Mine explosion Coalburg, Alabama, United Statesfiredamp explosion11Mine No.11 explosion Krebs, Oklahoma, United Statesaccidental set off of explosivesRoslyn mine explosion Roslyn, Washington, United Statesunderground gas explosion45Maria ore mine fire Pribram, Bohemiamine fire319 Parc Slip Colliery accident Aberkenfig, Walesunderground gas explosion112Great Western Mine fire Hopkinstown, Walesfire63Combs Colliery disaster Thornhill, Englandfiredamp explosion139 Senjski Rudnik disaster Senjski Rudnik, Serbiafire and cave-in28Albion Colliery explosion Pontypridd, Walesfiredamp explosion290Karwin mine disaster Karwin, Bohemiafiredamp explosion235Franklin Mine disaster Franklin, Washington, United Statesfire37Second Anina mine disaster Anina, Hungaryunderground gas explosion48Diglake Colliery Flooding Bignall End, Englandflooding77Third Almy Mine disaster Almy, Wyoming, United Statesunderground gas explosion62Kleofas coal mine disaster Kattowitz, Prussiapoisonous gases104Tylorstown No. 8 Pit disaster Tylorstown, Walesmethane gas explosion57 Brunner Mine disaster Brunner Mine, New Zealandfiredamp explosion65 Peckfield Colliery Disaster Micklefield, Englandfiredamp explosion63Twin Shaft disaster Pittston, Pennsylvania, United Statesmassive cave-in58Stockton Colliery disaster Stockton, New South Wales, Australiagas inhalation11Resica mine explosion Domány, Hungaryunderground gas explosion and fire80Snaefell Mine disaster Snaefell, Isle of Mancarbon monoxide poisoning20Second Resica mine explosion Domány, Hungaryunderground gas explosion and cave-in10Dudley Colliery explosion Redhead, New South Wales, Australiafiredamp explosion15Whitwick Colliery Disaster Coalville, Englandfire35 1899 Hokoku Coal Mine Disaster Itoda, Japancoal dust explosionCaledonia Mine explosion Glace Bay, Canadafiredamp explosion11Sumitomo Besshi mine disaster Niihama, Japanlandslide 512 Red Ash Mine disaster Fire Creek, West Virginia, United Statescarbon monoxide poisoning46Scofield Mine disaster Scofield, Utah, United Statescoal dust explosionFrisch Glück Mine Disaster Dux, Bohemiaunderground gas explosion55
20th century
May 19, 1902: 216 miners were killed in the Fraterville Mine disaster in Fraterville, Tennessee January 25, 1904: 179 miners and two aid workers were killed in the Harwick mine disaster, Harwick, Pennsylvania April 28, 1904: 63 people were killed in Villanueva del Río, Sevilla; it was the worst mining accident recorded in Spain. October 28, 1904; 19 miners were killed in Tercio, Colorado by a coal dust explosion. February 20, 1905 Virginia City Mine explosion (Alabama), 112 killed. March 10, 1906: Courrières mine disaster in Courrières, France. 1,099 workers died in the worst mine accident in European history. December 1, 1907: Naomi Mine Explosion in Fayette City, Pennsylvania. 34 workers died. December 4, 1907 Giroux Mining Accidents Ely, Nevada. 2 dead; 3 trapped. December 6, 1907: Monongah Mining disaster in Monongah, West Virginia. Official death toll is 362, but due to inadequate record keeping, the true death toll could be around 500. Victims were mostly Italian immigrant workers, including children. The disaster is widely considered the worst coal mining accident in American history. December 16, 1907: Yolande mine explosion near Birmingham, Alabama. Fifty-seven killed. December 19, 1907: Darr Mine disaster in Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania. 239 workers died, including children. August 18, 1908: Maypole Colliery disaster in Abram, Greater Manchester, England. 75 men and boys died. November 28, 1908: Marianna mine explosion near Marianna, Pennsylvania. 154 men killed, one survivor. November 13, 1909: Cherry Mine disaster in Cherry, Illinois. 259 workers, some as young as eleven, died in this mine fire, which had the most fatalities of any mine fire in the United States. December 21, 1910: The Pretoria Pit disaster in Westhoughton, Lancashire, 344 men and boys lost their lives in this explosion, which is the worst mining disaster on one day in England. January 20, 1911: 40 coal miners die in Sosnowiec, Russian Poland.MINE FIRE KILLS FORTY: Disaster In Casimir Colliery In Russian Poland. (1911). The New York Times, p. 5. April 8. 1911 Banner Mine disaster near Littleton, Alabama. Of the 128 men killed, most were leased Black convicts. August 24, 1911 Giroux Mining Accidents Ely, Nevada 7 dead 2 injured