One killed in W. Sumatra coal mine explosion

A miner was killed in an explosion at a coal mine in Parambahan area of Sawahlunto City, West Sumatra Province, Antaranews.com reported.

"We received the information after the victim was rushed to Sawahlunto Hospital. The victim Ruslan, 28, was pronounced dead by the hospital," Sawahlunto Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Riyadi Nugroho said on Friday.

The explosion on Thursday was believed to occur in a mining pit of PT Allied Indo Coaljaya (AIC), which is located not far from another pit operated by CV Bara Mitra Kencana, which was also hit by a similar incident a day before. The police conducted thorough investigation in the location of the blast.

Earlier on Wednesday, another explosion occurred at a coal mine in the area, injuring two miners. The explosion is suspected to be caused by an air blast.

"We recorded a sudden increase of methane gas that would reach an explosive level when reacted with air," a mining technical official Andi Asmunandar said. (*)