2007 Zasyadko mine disaster

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

"Zasyadko mine disaster" redirects here. For the 2015 disaster, see 2015 Zasyadko mine disaster.

2007 Zasyadko mine disaster
Location of Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine
DateNovember 18, 2007
LocationDonetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Coordinates48°04′08″N 37°48′20″E
Deaths101
Eastern shaft of the Zasyadko coal mine. Local cemetery seen on the foreground is the burial place for most of the victims.
Location of Donetsk (red) and Donetsk Oblast (pink) on the map of Ukraine.

By November 30, 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 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

References
  1. "Hospitalized miner died". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 30, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
  2. 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 November 19, 2007.
  3. "Yushchenko goes to Donetsk with a pain in his heart". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 18, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  4. "Ukraine's mine death toll rises". BBC News. November 20, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
  5. Шахта им. А.Ф.Засядько в Донецке. Справка RIA Novosti, November 19, 2007
  6. Перша версія трагедії у Донецьку (TSN news on Channel 1+1), November 22, 2007 (video of the report)
  7. "The number of killed miners in the Zasyadko mine reaches 63". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 18, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  8. "Body count reaches 90". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 20, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
  9. Laws of Ukraine. Presidential decree No. 7014: On the emergency procedures on resolving the aftermath of the accident at the Zasyadko Mine. Adopted on November 19, 2007. (Ukrainian)
  10. "Tomorrow- Day of National Mourning". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 19, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  11. "Ukraine mine blast kills 65". Agence France-Presse. November 18, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  12. "The cause of a Donetsk mine tragedy is announced". Korrespondent (in Russian). September 20, 2006. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  13. "Zasyadko mine. Black chronologies". Korrespondent (in Russian). November 19, 2006. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  14. "All miners evacuated". Korrespondent (in Russian). December 1, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  15. "Another explosion on Zasyadko mine". Korrespondent (in Russian). December 1, 2007. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  16. "The number of killed workers at the Zasyadko mine increased to 5". Korrespondent (in Russian). December 2, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2007.
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