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Fears for trapped Polish miners Fears for trapped Polish miners
(about 3 hours later)
Rescuers in Poland are battling to reach 15 miners trapped after a gas blast that killed eight colleagues. Rescuers in southern Poland are battling to reach 15 miners trapped after a gas explosion that killed eight of their colleagues.
More than 70 rescuers worked through the night to try to clear 500 metres of rubble to reach the area deep underground where the men are trapped. 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.
Hopes of finding the men alive were fading due to the extreme conditions underground, mine officials said. Hopes of finding the men alive are fading due to the extreme conditions underground, mine officials say.
The explosion happened at the Halemba coal mine in Ruda Slaska, 300km (190 miles) south-west of Warsaw on Tuesday. The blast happened at the Halemba coal mine in Ruda Slaska on Tuesday.
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. There is fear. This could have happened to any of us Krzysztof Przybyla miner 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 gathered at the pit head to await news.Anxious relatives have gathered at the pit head to await news.
'It is hell''It is hell'
Rescue work has been slowed by fears of a second explosion of suspected methane gas, a lack of oxygen and temperatures reaching 40C. The blast happened at about 1630 local time (1530 GMT) on Tuesday. It was probably caused by methane gas, officials said.
There is fear. This could have happened to any of us Krzysztof Przybyla Miner "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. Rescue work is being 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.
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 are trying to pump air into the shaft - it is not known if the breathing apparatus for the trapped miners will hold out.
Seven bodies have been recovered and the location of an eighth is known.Seven bodies have been recovered and the location of an eighth is known.
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 quickly be determined as their ID tags had been blown away in the blast.
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 eight dead miners. Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski flew to the site of the blast and has declared a period of national mourning for the dead miners.
Priests have been counselling distressed relatives. Eight candles burned on a wall at the main gate. 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.
"Me and my son, we are waiting for my husband," Barbara Luczakiewicz told Reuters news agency."Me and my son, we are waiting for my husband," Barbara Luczakiewicz told Reuters news agency.
"We hope he will get out of there. I am very scared but I haven't lost hope.""We hope he will get out of there. I am very scared but I haven't lost hope."
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."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."
The mine is in Silesia, the heartland of the Polish coal industry.The mine is in Silesia, the heartland of the Polish coal industry.
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. 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.