Senghenydd colliery disaster
The Senghenydd Colliery Disaster in Wales in 1913 was the worst coal mine accident of the 20th century in the United Kingdom.
The demand for Welsh steam coal before World War I was enormous, especially from navies and steam ships. Coal output from the UK was at its peak in 1914, and there were a corresponding large number of terrible accidents. The worst of which was at the Universal Colliery in Senghenydd, near Caerphilly, South Wales. It occurred on 14 October 1913, killing 439 miners as a result of a coal dust explosion which travelled through most of the underground workings.
It was probably initiated by a firedamp (methane) explosion, itself possibly ignited by electric sparking from equipment, such as electric bell signalling gear. The initial firedamp explosion disturbs coal dust present on the floor, raising a cloud which ignites in turn. The shock wave ahead of the explosion raises yet more coal dust so that the conflagration is effectively self-fuelling. Those miners not killed immediately by the fire and explosion would have died quickly from blackdamp (also known as afterdamp), the noxious gases formed by combustion. It contains lethal quantities of carbon monoxide, which kills very quickly by combining preferentially with haemoglobin in the blood. The victims are suffocated by lack of oxygen.
See also
References
- Helen and Baron Duckham, Great Pit Disasters: Great Britain 1700 to the present day, David & Charles (1973)