Rescue teams have successfully located five out of the seven miners who went missing during the incident at the Pniówek mine, owned by Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa, in April of the previous year. According to the company’s statement, these five miners were discovered in the N-12 longwall area, situated behind the entrance to the N-6 longwall. The challenging conditions of the operation mean that it will take approximately 24 hours to transport these found miners to the surface.
Efforts were also made to access the N-6 longwall, where the remaining two missing miners were believed to be located. Unfortunately, it was determined that the conditions within the wall did not allow for a safe rescue operation. Following the transportation of the found miners, the area of the wall will be secured again.
To reach the position of the two remaining missing miners, an additional excavation (one or two cuts) will be made from the N-9 ramp to the N-6 wall. Preparing and executing this next step may take up to a month. Thus far, a total of 61 rescue teams have been involved in the operation, including 16 teams from CSRG.
It is important to note that the initial methane explosion in the Pniówek mine occurred on April 20, just 12 minutes past midnight, during the mining activity near the N-11 road. At that time, there were 42 workers in the affected zone, including 16 in the vicinity of the N-6 wall. While 39 employees were able to evacuate during the operation, three individuals remained trapped within the wall. Three rescue teams were dispatched to their aid. Unfortunately, at approximately 3:10 a.m., a second methane explosion occurred, leaving seven people still within the danger zone.
On April 21, at 7:40 p.m., yet another methane explosion transpired. The rescue operation concluded on May 2 at 7:43. Tragically, as a result of these methane explosions, nine employees lost their lives, seven sustained severe injuries, and 26 experienced temporary incapacitation. Furthermore, seven workers were unaccounted for within the isolated N-6 wall.
