The community of Villablino, located in the northwestern region of León, has been engulfed in grief following the tragic gas explosion that claimed the lives of five miners on Monday at the Cerredo coal mine, approximately 20 kilometers away across the Asturian border.

A prevailing atmosphere of disbelief and sorrow has settled over the town since the incident, as many residents grapple with the reality that such tragedies were thought to belong to a bygone era.

The Cerredo mine, which had been closed since 2018, was only permitted to conduct research activities, and the site of the explosion had not been authorized for any operational tasks.

Retired miners walking through Villablino expressed their disbelief that the mining industry, which was effectively dormant since 2018 following the closure of local pits, could still result in loss of life.

Residents have consistently raised the question of why the mine was still operational, given its historical context.

Of the five deceased miners, four hailed from the Laciana valley within Villablino, and they are expected to be interred later today.

The fifth miner, from Torre del Bierzo, was laid to rest yesterday.

In remembrance of the miners, all businesses in Villablino closed at noon.

Bars, public buildings, schools, and institutes suspended services in a unified act of mourning.

Many local shops displayed black ribbons in their windows as a tribute to the fallen.

The entire community gathered at the municipal sports complex, nestled among the mountains, for a collective moment of remembrance.

People from surrounding areas, including miners from across the province and Asturias, attended the ceremony, which also included a private funeral for the families of the deceased inside the sports facility.

Amidst the crowd, former miners stood in silent solidarity next to younger generations who had only learned about the mining life through family conversations.

Many attendees wore sunglasses to conceal their tears as they remembered their lost comrades.

At the conclusion of the service, family, friends, and comrades carried the caskets, met with applause from the thousands present.

Among the mourning relatives was José, a 75-year-old uncle of 48-year-old Amadeo Bernabé, one of the deceased.

Having spent 26 years working as a miner, José noted that the safety conditions in the mine where his nephew died were significantly inferior to those he experienced during his career.

He expressed sorrow that Amadeo felt compelled to return to mining in a region where opportunities have severely diminished.

Villablino's population has plummeted from 16,000 residents in 1998 to less than 8,000 today, illustrating the paradox of a defunct mining industry still claiming lives.

Investigations are underway to ascertain the reasons behind the mine's continued operation and the conditions that led to this recent tragedy.