Raspadskaya mine explosion

Last updated
Vladimir Putin in 11 May 2010 Putin in Kemerovo Oblast (2010-05-11) 02.jpg
Vladimir Putin in 11 May 2010

The Raspadskaya mine explosion was a mine explosion in the Raspadskaya mine, located near Mezhdurechensk in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia, which occurred on 8 May 2010. It was believed to have been caused by a buildup of methane. The initial explosion was followed by a second approximately four hours later which collapsed the mine's ventilation shaft and trapped several rescue workers. By 18 May 2010, 66 [1] people were confirmed to have died with at least 99 others injured and as many as a further 24 unaccounted for.

Contents

History

The mine, owned by Russian company Raspadskaya, is the largest underground coal mine in Russia, [2] producing 10% of the country's coking coal.[ citation needed ] It has a history of accidents and safety problems. In March 2001, another methane explosion killed four miners and injured six. The mine was shut down for two weeks in 2008 due to safety violations and a worker was killed after part of the mine collapsed in January 2010.[ citation needed ]

Incident

The first blast occurred at 20:55 Moscow Summer Time (16:55 UTC) with the second at 01:00 MST (21:00 UTC).[ citation needed ] The explosions were confirmed by investigators to have been caused by methane gas. [3] A secondary explosion was reported approximately four hours later, with 20 rescue workers now among those missing. [3] The second explosion caused a collapse of the mine's ventilation shaft, drastically reducing the flow of fresh air into the mine.[ citation needed ]

Rescue efforts were suspended after the second blast. [4] By 18 May 2010, 66 people were confirmed to have died, at least 99 injured and 24 remained trapped underground. [5] Rescue work resumed late on May 9 after methane levels had dropped below safety limits and, at the peak of the operation, 560 people were involved with aid being sent from other parts of Russia.[ citation needed ]

Aftermath

Aman Tuleyev, governor of Kemerovo Oblast, has taken charge of the rescue operation. [3] The mine was evacuated after the first explosion and 282 people escaped to the surface.[ citation needed ] The Russian Energy Ministry has set up a task force to deal with the aftermath of the incident while President Dmitry Medvedev ordered a report from his emergencies minister and a junior energy minister, Vladimir Azbukin visited the scene.[ citation needed ] Medvedev ordered Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to head a government commission dealing with the aftermath of the incident.[ citation needed ]

The mine company agreed to pay 1 million Russian rubles in compensation (approximately US$ 33,000) to the families of the dead with additional assistance from the state. A government spokesman released a statement in which he said "families of the deceased, children of miners will get all the necessary assistance. The government has already discussed the issue with the mine's owners".[ citation needed ]

The event occurred the day before Victory Day and officials in the nearby town of Mezhdurechensk, where many of the mine's employees live, cancelled planned celebrations for the following day.[ citation needed ]

A criminal investigation was launched into the incident by Russian authorities and post-mortem examinations were carried out on the bodies of the miners to establish a precise cause of death.[ citation needed ]

The tragedy provoked civil unrest in nearby Mezhdurechensk. Coal miners rallied and occasionally clashed with police, 28 were arrested. [6] Governor Tuleyev met with the protesters and agreed with some of their demands. [7]

The appeal of "The Union of Kuznetsk Basin Residents"

On 16 May a new movement "The Union of Kuznetsk Basin Residents" issued an appeal to the President, the people of Russia and to those who live in the region. The authors made five demands: release the detained in the town of Mezhdurechensk, increase miners' minimum salaries threefold, stop persecution of the independent trade union, withdraw the police forces brought from other regions, and introduce monthly meetings of the town administration with the residents. The authors said that they would wait for the reply from the President until 21 May. Then, if their demands were not satisfied, they promised to start political actions.

The appeal appeared in blogs, including the specially created blog Golos Kuzbassa (lit. Voice of Kuzbass) and community Mezhdurechensk (later the community moderators deleted the text). It was also published by some mass media.

The State Duma deputy from the communists Nina Ostanina supported this appeal. According to her, if the region administration does not heed the demands of citizens, it may lead to events similar to those in Kyrgyzstan. [8] The appeal was also supported by the Solidarnost movement [9] and the All-Russian Strike Committee. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kemerovo Oblast — Kuzbass</span> First-level administrative division of Russia

Kemerovo Oblast — Kuzbass, also known simply as Kemerovo Oblast or Kuzbass (Кузба́сс), after the Kuznetsk Basin, is a federal subject of Russia. Kemerovo is the administrative center and largest city of the oblast. Kemerovo Oblast is one of Russia's most urbanized regions, with over 70% of the population living in its nine principal cities. Its ethnic composition is predominantly Russian, but native Shors and Kalmak Siberian Tatars also live in the oblast, along with Ukrainians, Volga Tatars, and Chuvash. The population recorded during the 2021 Census was 2,600,923.

A mining accident is an accident that occurs during the process of mining minerals or metals. Thousands of miners die from mining accidents each year, especially from underground coal mining, although accidents also occur in hard rock mining. Coal mining is considered much more hazardous than hard rock mining due to flat-lying rock strata, generally incompetent rock, the presence of methane gas, and coal dust. Most of the deaths these days occur in developing countries, and rural parts of developed countries where safety measures are not practiced as fully. A mining disaster is an incident where there are five or more fatalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aman Tuleyev</span> Russian politician (1944–2023)

Amangeldy Gumirovich "Aman" Tuleyev was a Russian statesman. He served as governor of Kemerovo Oblast from 1997 to 2018 and was the chairman of the Council of People's Deputies of the Kemerovo Oblast briefly in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monongah mining disaster</span> 1907 explosion in West Virginia

The Monongah mining disaster of Monongah, West Virginia occurred on December 6, 1907, and has been described as "the worst mining disaster in American history." 362 miners were killed. The explosion occurred in Fairmont Coal Company’s No. 6 and No. 8 mines, and was one of the contributing events leading to the creation of the United States Bureau of Mines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courrières mine disaster</span> 1906 coal mine explosion in Pas-de-Calais, France

The Courrières mine disaster, Europe's worst mining accident, caused the death of 1,099 miners in Northern France on 10 March 1906. This disaster was surpassed only by the Benxihu Colliery accident in China on 26 April 1942, which killed 1,549 miners. A coaldust explosion, the cause of which is not known with certainty, devastated a coal mine operated by the Compagnie des mines de houille de Courrières. Victims lived nearby in the villages of Méricourt, Sallaumines, Billy-Montigny, and Noyelles-sous-Lens. The mine was 2 km (1 mi) to the east of Lens, in the Pas-de-Calais département.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mezhdurechensk, Kemerovo Oblast</span> City in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia

Mezhdurechensk is a city in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. Population: 101,678 (2010 Census); 101,987 (2002 Census); 107,014 (1989 Census).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulyanovskaya Mine disaster</span> 2007 methane explosion in the Ulyanovskaya longwall coal mine, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia

The Ulyanovskaya Mine disaster was caused by a methane explosion that occurred on March 19, 2007 in the Ulyanovskaya longwall coal mine in the Kemerovo Oblast. At least 108 people were reported to have been killed by the blast, which occurred at a depth of about 270 meters (885 feet) at 10:19 local time. The mine disaster was Russia's deadliest in more than a decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yubileynaya mine</span>

The Yubileinaya mine is a coal mine in the Kemerovo Oblast area of Siberia, Russia. The mine is operated by Yuzhkuzbassugol, part owned by the Evraz Group who plan to take full ownership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Zasyadko mine disaster</span> 2007 coal mine explosion in Donetsk, Ukraine

The 2007 Zasyadko mine disaster was a mining accident that happened on November 18, 2007 at the Zasyadko coal mine in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zasyadko coal mine</span> Coal mining company in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine

Zasyadko Mine is a coal mining company in Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk. Following the start of the War in Donbass in 2014 the mine became situated in rebel controlled territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Handlová mine blast</span> 2009 coal mine explosion in Handlová, Trencin Region, Slovakia

The 2009 Handlová mine blast occurred on 10 August 2009 roughly 330 metres (1,080 ft) underground in Trencin Region, Slovakia at Hornonitrianske Bane Prievidza, a.s.s (HNB) coal mine located in the town of Handlová. 20 people were killed, nine others suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. Some historians have called the disaster the largest mining tragedy in Slovakia’s history. The deadly explosion, probably caused by flammable gases, occurred after mine rescuers had earlier been deployed to extinguish a fire in the Eastern shaft of the mine.

OJSC Raspadskaya is a Russia-based coal-mining company owned by Evraz (82%) and headquartered in Mezhdurechensk, Kemerovo Oblast. The company produces 7 million tons of coal per year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Big Branch Mine disaster</span> 2010 coal mine explosion in Montcoal, West Virginia, USA

The Upper Big Branch Mine disaster occurred on April 5, 2010 roughly 1,000 feet (300 m) underground in Raleigh County, West Virginia at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine located in Montcoal. Twenty-nine out of thirty-one miners at the site were killed. The coal dust explosion occurred at 3:27 pm. The accident was the worst in the United States since 1970, when 38 miners were killed at Finley Coal Company's No. 15 and 16 mines in Hyden, Kentucky. A state funded independent investigation later found Massey Energy directly responsible for the blast.

2010 mining disaster may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raspadskaya coal mine</span>

The Raspadskaya Coal Mine is a coal mine located in Mezhdurechensk, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. It is the largest coal and the largest underground mine in Russia. The mine was opened in 1973 and its construction was completed in 1977. In addition to the main underground mine, the mining complex also includes MUK-96 underground mine, Raspadskaya Koksovaya underground mine, and Razrez Raspadsky open-pit mine, as also the Raspadskaya preparation plant. The mine is the largest coal mine in Russia.

The following lists events from the year 2013 in Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vorkuta mine disaster</span> 2016 mine explosions in Vorkuta, Komi Republic, Russia

In February 2016, a series of explosions caused the deaths of 36 people, including 31 miners and five rescue workers, at the Severnaya coal mine 10 kilometres north of the city of Vorkuta, Komi Republic, Russia. The explosions were believed to be caused by ignition of leaking methane gas. It is the second deadliest mining disaster of the 2010s behind the Soma mine disaster, and fourth deadliest of the 21st century thus far.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sergey Tsivilyov</span> Ukrainian-born Russian statesman

Sergey Yevgenyevich Tsivilyov, is a Russian statesman, politician, economist and former military officer who is currently serving as the 3rd Governor of Kemerovo Oblast since 17 September 2018. He is the member of the Bureau of the Supreme Council of the United Russia party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Listvyazhnaya mine disaster</span> 2021 mining disaster in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia

The Listvyazhnaya mine disaster was a mining accident that occurred on 25 November 2021 in a coal mine in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia. Smoke from a fire in a ventilation shaft caused the suffocation of over 40 miners. A failed attempt to rescue the trapped miners resulted in the deaths of at least five rescuers when the mine exploded. It is the deadliest mine accident in Russia since the 2010 Raspadskaya mine explosion in the same region.

References

  1. Сенатор нашел в волнениях в Междуреченске "оранжевый след" 18 May 2010. Lenta.ru Accessed 26 June 2010.
  2. "Coal mine blasts kill 12 and trap 83". Reuters via The Independent . London: Independent News and Media. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 "Blast at Russian mine in western Siberia kills eight". BBC News . BBC. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  4. "West Siberian mine hit by two blasts, casualty reports vary". RIA Novosti. 9 May 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  5. "Toll rises to 30 as rescue continues at Russian mine". BBC News . BBC. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  6. Al Jazeera: Russians arrested in mine protest
  7. ITAR-TASS: Kemerovo reg governor blames coalmine owners for tragedy [ permanent dead link ]
  8. "Эхо Москвы :: Новости / В Интернете появилось открытое обращение к Дмитрию Медведеву, гражданам России и жителям Кемеровской области". Эхо Москвы.
  9. В поддержку шахтеров Кузбасса Archived 2010-05-23 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Оргкомитет по формированию Всероссийского забастовочного комитета призывает к солидарным действиям в поддержку шахтеров Кузбасса". 16 May 2010.

53°41′N88°03′E / 53.683°N 88.050°E / 53.683; 88.050