Page 409 - Advanced Mine Ventilation

378 Advanced Mine Ventilation

Table 23.1 Major Coal Mine Explosions in the World (Arranged Chronologically 1936e93) a

Type of Number of
Country Mine Explosion Deaths Year
India Poidih Mixed 209 1936
India Chinakuri Mixed 176 1958
1 and 2
South Africa Coalbrook Gas 684 1960
China Laobadong Gas 680 1960
Germany Luisenthal Gas 299 1962
Japan Mikawa Gas 457 1963
Japan Yamona Gas 431 1965
India Dhori Coal dust 375 1965
Yugoslavia Orasi Gas 144 1965
USA No. 9 Gas 78 1968
Zimbabwe Wankie Gas 426 1972
(Rhodesia)
Yugoslavia Kreka Gas 169 1990
Ukraine Ukraine Gas 65 1992
South Africa Middle Belt Gas 58 1993

a
There were explosions with even greater fatalities, but good reports are unavailable (such as an explosion in China in 1942
with 1549 fatalities).

coal dust concentration is in the explosive range, the coal dust cloud explodes creating
a coal dust explosion. The latter is often more powerful and causes serious damage to
mine structures as well as causing large number of fatalities. Hence, the subject will be
discussed separately as gas explosions and coal dust explosions.

23.1 Gas Explosions

A few terms need a clear definition for better understanding of the subject.

23.1.1 Definitions [2]
Gas: It means a substance that can exist only in the gaseous state at standard pressure

(1 atm) and temperature (32 F).