The miners were among 10 missing after an underground quake and methane discharge at the Borynia-Zofiowka mine on Saturday. Six minors are still missing, and rescuers said they found two others without saying if they were alive.
Separately, five workers died and seven others are still missing after repeated methane explosions began Wednesday at the nearby Pniowek mine. Searches for survivors were suspended on Friday after fresh blasts injured 10 rescuers, some seriously.
Both mines are operated by the company Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa (JSW) in the Jastrzebie-Zdroj region, near the Czech border.
Miners take shelter in a bus as search and rescue operations continue.
Photo: Reuters/Dominik Gajda/AGENCJA WYBORCZA
Most of Poland’s energy comes from coal, which is criticized by the European Union and environmental groups who are worried about CO2 emissions in the context of the fight against climate change.
Most Polish coal mines are in southern Silesia. Many are characterized by the strong presence of methane in the rock.
Poland has reduced the use of coal and recently the government announced that it will end coal imports from Russia by May, as part of Poland’s years-long effort to reduce its dependence in the face of Russian energy sources, but also in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
