Exactly 51 years ago, there was a strong methane explosion in the pit “Orasi” of the Black Coal Mine Kakanj, which directly or indirectly killed 128 miners, caused light or severe injuries of 20 miners, while 88 miners were left uninjured.
In the publication “The Mining Catastrophe, 7th of June 1965” it is stated that, according to mechanical devastation and collapsing in the pit “Orasi”, it can be concluded that the center of the methane explosion was in the preparatory exploitation site number 207. This exploitation site is entirely demolished, the bulkhead knocked down, and machines and electrical installations damaged. From this exploitation site, the air shock was transmitted through the mining rod to the exploitation site number 206, demolishing the intersection and causing substantial damage in the main and wind hall around 400 meters to the west and 300 meters to the east from the intersection.
The Commission could determine with certainty what caused the explosion of methane in the exploitation site 207 because that site was destroyed and filled with gas, so it was impossible to analyze in detail the installed electrical equipment, cables, batteries, switches or other installations based on which a conclusion might be drawn about the immediate cause of the methane explosion.
Following are possible causes of the methane explosion: faulty safety petrol lamp or improper handling with the good-working one, faulty safety battery cap torch, faulty electrical devices and installations, and use of smoking accessories.
It is believed that the ignition of methane preceded the explosion. This is indicated by the fact that the working suit of a worker who was in the vicinity of the mining rod in the exploitation site number 206 was entirely burned, and his body almost completely charred. The ignition must have occurred very close to him because the traces of burning are visible only there.
Lack of instruction about the function and use of self-savers reflected on the extent of the catastrophe. Apart from choosing entirely wrong direction of withdrawal, workers from the excavation sites (around 140), led by the headman and supervisors, passed by the open storage with 91 self-savers and no one used any, regardless of the fact that their purpose is precisely to help the miners to pass the zone poisoned with carbon monoxide.
Three large mining accidents occurred in one-century-old tradition of the Kakanj mine and a total of 274 miners were killed. Two accidents occurred in the pit “Stara Jama”, one in 1916 (19 killed) and one in 1934 (127 killed), and one in the pit “Orasi” in 1965 (128 killed).
(Source: nap.ba/photo: historija.ba)
