We remember. Tribute to victims of mining disasters

26.04.2024

The ceremonies which took place today in the mine's pithead were dedicated to the memory of the miners who died in the disasters that occurred in the Zofiówka Section in 2018 and 2022. On the anniversary of the dramatic events, tributes were paid to the fifteen victims of the two disasters.

photos: Dawid Lach

In front of the plaque commemorating the fallen miners, a guard of honor was given by rescue workers. Flowers were laid by representatives of the JSW Management Board - Paweł Rostkowski, acting President of the JSW Management Board, together with Jolanta Gruszka, Vice-President of the JSW Management Board for Sales, as well as representatives of the JSW Supervisory Board, mine authorities and trade union representatives.

The first disaster occurred on 5 May 2018. On that day, there occurred one of the strongest tremors ever recorded in Polish mines. Seven miners were trapped 900 meters underground. Two managed to be rescued, five left for eternal life. The rescue operation lasted more than ten days, and nearly 2,500 people took part. To this day, it is considered one of the most difficult in the history of Polish mining.

Four years later, on 23 April 2022, another tragedy occurred at the Zofiówka Section. Its cause was a high-energy shock wave combined with an intense outburst of methane, which took place at the D-4a face at the 900 level. There were 52 miners in the area of the incident. 42 came out on their own, and contact with 10 others was lost. As it turned out in the following hours of the rescue operation - all of them died. The rescue operation lasted four days.