Three fatalities confirmed in wake of coal mine accident
All three miners that went missing in a massive inrush of wet clay at the Velenje coal mine on 20 January have been confirmed dead after the rescuers found two more bodies two days after the accident, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
A group of 14 miners were at the extraction site as the sudden inrush of mud hit. All but three managed to retreat to safety. One of them was found dead immediately after the accident and two more were found by rescuers on 22 January.
"This is a very tragic event for everyone," coal mine director general Marko Mavec said, adding that they were offering psychological support to the families of the victims.
One of the bodies is yet to be recovered from the mine, and the ages of the victims have not been made known officially with the media quoting conflicting information but two of the miners are reported to have left behind very young children.
Mavec said an estimated 750 cubic metres of material collapsed into the shaft. "So far we have removed about 250 cubic metres ... clearing the material is still risky so we won't be rushing," he said.
The search operation has been extremely difficult and traumatic for the rescuers looking for fellow workers, he said. They have been offered psychological support. Some 80 rescuers have been actively involved in the effort.
The investigation into the accident is still ongoing. Mining inspectors will not comment until the process is completed, the Natural Resources Inspectorate has told the Slovenian Press Agency.
The mine will resume production at one extraction site on 23 January. Mavec said deformities have already appeared there and work has to resume as soon as possible. The mine has not decided yet when to restart production at the other sites.
The worst mining accident in the country in almost a quarter of a century has come as a major shock to the Šalek Valley, where the livelihoods of many have depended on the mine and the Šoštanj power station that it supplies.
Slovenia is planning to exit coal in 2033 and Velenje is the country's only operational mine.
