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Fears for trapped Polish miners Hopes fade for 15 Polish miners
(about 1 hour later)
Rescuers in southern Poland are battling to reach 15 miners trapped after a gas explosion that killed eight of their colleagues. Hopes are fading of saving 15 Polish miners trapped after a gas explosion killed at least eight of their colleagues, officials have warned.
About 70 rescuers worked through the night to try to clear 500m (1,640ft) of rubble to reach the men trapped some 1,000m (3,300ft) underground. Rescuers worked through the night and day to try to clear 500m (1,640ft) of rubble to reach the men trapped some 1,000m (3,300ft) underground.
Hopes of finding the men alive are fading due to the extreme conditions underground, mine officials say. But they later suspended their efforts because of fears of another explosion.
The blast happened at the Halemba coal mine in Ruda Slaska on Tuesday. The blast happened at the Halemba coal mine in Ruda Slaska, southern Poland, on Tuesday afternoon.
There is fear. This could have happened to any of us Krzysztof Przybyla Miner href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6173678.stm" class="">In pictures: Relatives wait Grzegorz Pawlaszek, head of the state-owned company, said the mine shaft had been closed in March because of high gas levels, but the miners were retrieving equipment worth $23m (17.9m euros; £12.1m) that had been left behind. Although one can never lose hope and has to fight to the very end, the situation is very bad Lech KaczynskiPolish president
Anxious relatives have gathered at the pit head to await news. "The situation is getting worse down there and there are no rescue teams there," Polish President Lech Kaczynski said after visiting the site.
"Although one can never lose hope and has to fight to the very end, the situation is very bad."
Grzegorz Pawlaszek, head of the state-owned company, said the mine shaft had been closed in March because of high gas levels, but the miners were retrieving equipment worth $23m (17.9m euros; £12.1m) that had been left behind.
Anxious relatives have been waiting at the scene for news.
'It is hell''It is hell'
The blast happened at about 1630 local time (1530 GMT) on Tuesday. It was probably caused by methane gas, officials said. Officials said the blast, at about 1630 local time (1530 GMT) on Tuesday, was probably caused by methane gas.
Rescue work is being slowed by fears of a second explosion of suspected methane gas, a lack of oxygen and temperatures reaching 40C. Rescue work was slowed by fears of a second explosion of suspected methane gas, a lack of oxygen and temperatures reaching 40C.
"The conditions down there are extreme. It is hell. It is impossible to breathe in the area of the explosion, the ventilation has been destroyed," said Zbigniew Madej, a spokesman for the state-owned coal company. "The conditions down there are extreme. It is hell. It is impossible to breathe in the area of the explosion," said Zbigniew Madej, a spokesman for the state-owned coal company.
Rescuers are trying to pump air into the shaft - it is not known if the breathing apparatus for the trapped miners will hold out. Rescuers have been trying to pump air into the shaft - it is not known if the breathing apparatus for the trapped miners will hold out.
Rescue efforts were suspended later on Tuesday.
Six bodies have been recovered. Another two have been located but could not be reached.Six bodies have been recovered. Another two have been located but could not be reached.
The identities of the dead could not quickly be determined as their ID tags had been blown away in the blast. The identities of the dead could not be determined quickly as their ID tags had been blown away in the blast.
Ruda Slaska lies about 300km (190 miles) south-west of the capital Warsaw.Ruda Slaska lies about 300km (190 miles) south-west of the capital Warsaw.
Candlelight vigilCandlelight vigil
Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski flew to the site of the blast and has declared a period of national mourning for the dead miners. The prime minister flew to the site of the blast and has declared a period of national mourning for the dead miners.
Relatives say they are scared but have not lost hopePriests have been counselling distressed relatives. Eight candles burned on a wall at the main gate. Relatives say they are scared but have not lost hope
"Me and my son, we are waiting for my husband," Barbara Luczakiewicz told Reuters news agency. Priests have been counselling distressed relatives. Eight candles burned on a wall at the main gate.
"We hope he will get out of there. I am very scared but I haven't lost hope." "There are a couple of hundred people standing outside the entrance to the mine holding candles and flowers," Marek Piotrowski, who visited the site, told the BBC.
Krzysztof Przybyla, a miner finishing a shift in an area of the mine still operating, said: "There is fear. This could have happened to any of us." "It's a real tragedy for this community. But everyone is pulling together and hoping the 15 still trapped will survive."
The mine is in Silesia, the heartland of the Polish coal industry.The mine is in Silesia, the heartland of the Polish coal industry.
Safety conditions in Polish mines have improved since communist times, our correspondent says.Safety conditions in Polish mines have improved since communist times, our correspondent says.
But unions have often complained of poor investment in the industry. More than 80 miners have died in the country since 2003. An explosion at the Halemba pit in 1990 killed 19 miners.But unions have often complained of poor investment in the industry. More than 80 miners have died in the country since 2003. An explosion at the Halemba pit in 1990 killed 19 miners.
Are you in the area near the mine? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in the area near the mine? Send us your comments using the form below.
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