2011 Ukraine mine accidents
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Ukraine
mine accidents were two incidents which occurred at two different coal mines in Eastern Ukraine on 29 July 2011. The first was an explosion at the Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mine
which has killed at least 17 people and left nine missing. The second was an elevator collapse at a mine in the industrial city of Makiyivka in which at least two miners were killed. The collapse also injured at least three and left 11 missing. The President of Ukraine
has ordered the government to set up a commission to investigate the accident.
, which occurred 3,000 feet (915 meters) underground. The explosion killed at least 17 people and left nine missing. Investigators suspect the accident was caused by a powerful explosion of methane. Mykhailo Volynets, the head of the Independent Trade Union of Miners, called the Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya mine "one of the most dangerous in Ukraine" due to buildups of methane and coal dust. The President of Ukraine
Viktor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov
planned to fly to the accident site.
in the industrial city of Makiivka
. At least two miners were killed, at least three were injured and 11 were left missing. Hundreds of other workers laboring at a different section of the mine were trying to leave through emergency exits and pathways, said Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Yulia Yershova.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
mine accidents were two incidents which occurred at two different coal mines in Eastern Ukraine on 29 July 2011. The first was an explosion at the Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mine
Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mine
The Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mine is a large underground coal mine located in the south-east of Ukraine in Lugansk Oblast. Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya represents one of the largest coal reserves in Ukraine having estimated reserves of 157.4 million tonnes...
which has killed at least 17 people and left nine missing. The second was an elevator collapse at a mine in the industrial city of Makiyivka in which at least two miners were killed. The collapse also injured at least three and left 11 missing. The President of Ukraine
President of Ukraine
Prior to the formation of the modern Ukrainian presidency, the previous Ukrainian head of state office was officially established in exile by Andriy Livytskyi. At first the de facto leader of nation was the president of the Central Rada at early years of the Ukrainian People's Republic, while the...
has ordered the government to set up a commission to investigate the accident.
Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya explosion
Shortly before 2 a.m. on 29th July 2011, an explosion went off in the Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mineSuhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mine
The Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya coal mine is a large underground coal mine located in the south-east of Ukraine in Lugansk Oblast. Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya represents one of the largest coal reserves in Ukraine having estimated reserves of 157.4 million tonnes...
, which occurred 3,000 feet (915 meters) underground. The explosion killed at least 17 people and left nine missing. Investigators suspect the accident was caused by a powerful explosion of methane. Mykhailo Volynets, the head of the Independent Trade Union of Miners, called the Suhodolskaya-Vostochnaya mine "one of the most dangerous in Ukraine" due to buildups of methane and coal dust. The President of Ukraine
President of Ukraine
Prior to the formation of the modern Ukrainian presidency, the previous Ukrainian head of state office was officially established in exile by Andriy Livytskyi. At first the de facto leader of nation was the president of the Central Rada at early years of the Ukrainian People's Republic, while the...
Viktor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov
Mykola Azarov
Mykola Yanovych Azarov ; born Nikolai Yanovich Pakhlo on 17 December 1947, is a Ukrainian politician who has been the Prime Minister of Ukraine since 11 March 2010. He was the First Vice Prime Minister and Finance Minister from 2002 to 2005 and again from 2006 to 2007, and he also served as acting...
planned to fly to the accident site.
Makiivka elevator collapse
A short time after the explosion, an elevator collapsed at the Bazhanova Coal MineBazhanova Coal Mine
The Bazhanova coal mine is a large coal mine located in southeastern Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast, in the industrial city of Makiivka. Bazhanova represents one of the largest coal reserve in Ukraine having estimated reserves of 58.7 million tonnes of coal...
in the industrial city of Makiivka
Makiivka
Makiivka, also spelled Makiyivka is an industrial city located in eastern Ukraine within the Donetsk Oblast , from the capital Donetsk. As of the 2001 Ukrainian Census, the city's population is 389,589 inhabitants, of these 178,475 are men and 211,114 are women. It is an important steel...
. At least two miners were killed, at least three were injured and 11 were left missing. Hundreds of other workers laboring at a different section of the mine were trying to leave through emergency exits and pathways, said Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Yulia Yershova.