2007 Zasyadko mine disaster
 Location of Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine | |
| Date | 18 November 2007 |
|---|---|
| Location | Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine |
| Deaths | 101 |
48°03′14″N 37°47′13″E / 48.054°N 37.787°E The 2007 Zasyadko mine disaster was a mining accident that happened on November 18, 2007 at the Zasyadko coal mine (Template:Lang-uk) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.
By 30 November, 101 miners were reported dead:[1] the worst accident in Ukraine's history. At the time of the explosion, 457 miners were in the complex.[2][3]
Causes and investigation
The accident was caused by a methane explosion located more than 1,000 metres (3,281 ft) below ground level.[4]
The Zasyadko Mine is considered one of the most dangerous coal mines in the world,[5] An independent mining expert recently[when?] claimed that the company management, linked to a powerful local clan, interferes with hazard-measuring equipment on a permanent basis, in order to present underground situation as being within the safety standards, and so to prevent production from closure by the government inspectors.[6] President Viktor Yushchenko blamed the cabinet for failing to “implement safe mining practices” in the coal industry.[4] A criminal investigation is also underway.
Government reaction
Families of the deceased miners will receive compensations totaling 100,000 hryvnias,[7] (approx. $20,000 USD) which constitutes part of the 15 million hryvnias that the Cabinet of Ministers has set aside for renovation of the mine which would prevent future accidents from happening.[8]
On November 19, 2007, President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree that calls for investigation into Zasyadko mine disaster as well as prevention of such disasters in the future.[9] The President also signed a decree making November 20 a Day of National Mourning.[10]
Mining accidents trend
Within the past decade, the frequency of mining accidents has increased in the Donbas coal region. The Zasyadko mine accident is the deadliest ever accident in Ukraine, surpassing the Barakova Mine accident in 2000, which killed at least 80 workers.[4]
The Zasyadko Mine, Ukraine's largest and most equipped mine, employs 10,000 people and produces up to 10,000 tons of coal per day.[11] Prior to this, four previous major mining accidents at the mine had killed a total of 148 workers combined.[12][13]
Recurring accidents
Twelve days later, on December 1, 2007, at 5:55 local time another methane explosion happened in the same mine section injuring 52 miners. [14] After this, at 21:20 local time on December 2, another explosion occurred,[15] killing at least 5 workers and injuring 30 more.[16]
See also
- 2008 Ukraine coal mine collapse, gas explosion in June 2008
References
- ^ "Hospitalized miner died". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
- ^ Korneychuk, Dmitriy (November 18, 2007). "Methane blast at the mine of Zasyadko". Gazeta po-Kievskiy (in Russian). Archived from the original on November 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ "Yushchenko goes to Donetsk with a pain in his heart". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 18, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ a b c "Ukraine's mine death toll rises". BBC News. November 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- ^ Шахта им. А.Ф.Засядько в Донецке. Справка RIA Novosti, November 19, 2007
- ^ Перша версія трагедії у Донецьку[permanent dead link] (TSN news on Channel 1+1), November 22, 2007 (video of the report[permanent dead link])
- ^ "The number of killed miners in the Zasyadko mine reaches 63". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 18, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ "Body count reaches 90". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- ^ Laws of Ukraine. Presidential decree No. 7014: On the emergency procedures on resolving the aftermath of the accident at the Zasyadko Mine. Adopted on 2007-11-19. (Ukrainian)
- ^ "Tomorrow- Day of National Mourning". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ "Ukraine mine blast kills 65". Agence France-Presse. November 18, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-19.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "The cause of a Donetsk mine tragedy is announced". Korrespondent (in Russian). September 20, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ "Zasyadko mine. Black chronologies". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 19, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ "All miners evacuated". Korrespondent (in Russian). December 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
- ^ "Another explosion on Zasyadko mine". Korrespondent (in Russian). December 1, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
- ^ "The number of killed workers at the Zasyadko mine increased to 5". Korrespondent (in Russian). December 2, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-02.