2007 Zasyadko mine disaster

The 2007 Zasyadko mine disaster was a mining accident that happened on November 18, 2007 at the Zasyadko coal mine ( _uk. Шахта ім. Засядько) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. At present, 101 miners are dead: [cite news
title=Hospitalized miner died
url=http://www.korrespondent.net/main/218809
work=Korrespondent
date=November 30, 2007
accessdate=2007-11-30
language=Russian] the worst accident in Ukraine’s history. At the time of the explosion, 457 miners were in the complex. [cite news|first=Dmitriy|last=Korneychuk|title=Methane blast at the mine of Zasyadko|url=http://pk.kiev.ua/country/2007/11/18/113822.html|work=Gazeta po-Kievskiy|date=November 18, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-19|language=Russian] [cite news|title=Yushchenko goes to Donetsk with a pain in his heart|url=http://www.korrespondent.net/main/217025|work=Korrespondent|date=November 18, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-19|language=Russian]

Causes and investigation

The accident was caused by a methane explosion located more than convert|1000|m|ft|0|lk=on below ground level.cite news|title=Ukraine's mine death toll rises|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7103086.stm|work=BBC News|date=November 20, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-20|language=English]

One of the most dangerous coal mines in the world, [ [http://www.rian.ru/spravka/20071119/88646124.html Шахта им. А.Ф.Засядько в Донецке. Справка] RIA Novosti, November 19, 2007] the Zasyadko Mine is equipped with up-to-date and permanently renovated safety-monitoring systems. [ [http://www.rian.ru/incidents/20071118/88585156.html Метан, или "гремучий газ". Смертельный враг шахтера] RIA Novosti, November 18, 2007] However, 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. [ [http://1plus1.tv/tsn_news/tsn_archive/?date=2007-11-22 Перша версія трагедії у Донецьку] (TSN news on Channel 1+1), November 22, 2007 ( [http://iplus.com.ua/topnovini/novini/chornahronika/20071122_12455_30186.php video of the report] )] President Viktor Yushchenko blamed the cabinet for failing to “implement safe mining practices” in the coal industry.cite news|title=Ukraine's mine death toll rises|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7103086.stm|work=BBC News|date=November 20, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-20|language=English] A criminal investigation is also underway.

Government reaction

Families of the deceased miners will receive compensations totaling 100,000 hryvnias, [cite news|title=The number of killed miners in the Zasyadko mine reaches 63|url=http://www.korrespondent.net/main/217024|work=Korrespondent|date=November 18, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-19|language=Russian] (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.cite news|title=Body count reaches 90|url=http://www.korrespondent.net/main/217315|work=Korrespondent|date=November 20, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-20|language=Russian] 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. [Cite Ukrainian law|type=Presidential decree|number=7014|law=1119/2007|name=On the emergency procedures on resolving the aftermath of the accident at the Zasyadko Mine|date=2007-11-19] The President also signed a decree making November 20 a Day of National Mourning. [cite news|title=Tomorrow- Day of National Mourning|url=http://www.korrespondent.net/main/217173|work=Korrespondent|date=November 19, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-19|language=Russian]

Mining accidents trend

wikinewshas|news related to the Zasyadko mine disaster
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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.

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. [cite news|title=Ukraine mine blast kills 65|url=http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/071118214718.3sw99p5c.html|work=Agence France-Presse|date=November 18, 2007|accessdate=2007-11-19|language=English] It has had four other major mining accidents in the past that killed more than 130 workers. [cite news|title=The cause of a Donetsk mine tragedy is announced|url=http://www.korrespondent.net/main/164655|work=Korrespondent|date=September 20, 2006|accessdate=2007-11-19|language=Russian] cite news|title=Zasyadko mine. Black chronologies|url=http://www.korrespondent.net/main/217125|work=Korrespondent|date=November 19, 2006|accessdate=2007-11-19|language=Russian]

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. [cite news|title=All miners evacuated|url=http://www.korrespondent.net/main/218982|work=Korrespondent|date=December 1, 2007|accessdate=2007-12-01|language=Russian] After this, at 21:20 local time on December 2, another explosion occurred, [cite news|title=Another explosion on Zasyadko mine|url=http://www.korrespondent.net/main/219080|work=Korrespondent|date=December 1, 2007|accessdate=2007-12-01|language=Russian] killing at least 5 workers and injuring 30 more. [cite news|title=The number of killed workers at the Zasyadko mine increased to 5|url=http://www.korrespondent.net/main/219086|work=Korrespondent|date=December 2, 2007|accessdate=2007-12-02|language=Russian]

ee also

* 2008 Ukraine coal mine collapse, gas explosion in June 2008

References