A blast rocked a mine in Spain, killing five workers and injuring four others. The incident happened at the Cerredo mine in the town of Degaña, in the autonomous community of Asturias, around 9:30 am on Monday. Initially, two people were reported missing, but they were found later that afternoon.
The cause of the explosion is still unknown, but emergency services received a report of a problem with a machine in the mine before the blast. Firefighters, rescue teams, and search dogs were sent to the scene to help those affected. The five victims, aged between 32 and 54, were from the province of León in northwestern Spain.
The mine was once a major operation but closed in 2018. However, private companies have been allowed to extract anthracite on a contract basis. The regional government of Asturias confirmed that the miners who were affected had the necessary permits, but it’s unclear how many workers were in the mine at the time of the explosion.
According to local media, including ABC España, the mine has been the site of periodic extraction operations since its closure. The incident is being investigated, with authorities working to determine the exact cause of the blast.
Sources close to the investigation suggest that the problem with the machine may have contributed to the explosion. The mine’s history and the circumstances surrounding the incident are being examined to prevent similar accidents in the future.
The incident has raised concerns about mine safety in the region, with authorities vowing to investigate and take necessary measures to prevent such tragedies from happening again. The victims’ families and the local community are receiving support and assistance in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Source: BBC