One killed, four still trapped following coal mine explosion

A miner was killed, and four others were still trapped under the ground following methane gas explosion at a coal mine owned by PT Dasrat Sarana Arang Sejati in Batu Tanjung Village, Sawahlunto, South Sumatra, Kompas reported Saturday.

The paper said that the incident occurred Friday when the miners were digging 100 meters below the ground. Head of the Sawahlunto branch of the Disaster Mitigation Agency, Deswanda said that the explosion might have been triggered by spark of fire from the electricity-run oxygen blower equipment used by the miners.

He said that it is difficult to determine the condition of the remaining miners still trapped under the ground, but considering the high CO2 level, they may have died. He added that evacuation process has been hampered by the high CO2 level. (*)