Date | 12 September 1944 |
---|---|
Location | Hlobane, Natal, South Africa |
Coordinates | 27°42′37″S30°59′54″E / 27.710286°S 30.998380°E |
Cause | Methane explosion |
Casualties | |
57 dead | |
6 injured |
A methane explosion killed 57 miners at the Hlobane Colliery, Natal, South Africa on 12 September 1944. [1] During drilling of a dyke in a coal seam, methane built up during the night due to insufficient ventilation in the mine. [1]
The explosion was said to have been caused by a miner relighting his lamp. [1] He was in charge of monitoring the methane levels and its high levels had extinguished his lamp. [1] The explosion resulted in the deaths of 57 miners and six serious injuries. [1]
On the 39th anniversary of the explosion in 1983, a similar explosion killed 68 miners at the same mine. [1]