Tragic Explosion at Zarréu Coal Mine Claims Five Lives in Asturias
Official mourning declared in Asturias and Castilla y León as investigations into the incident begin
An explosion occurred at approximately 8:45 AM on Monday within the Zarréu coal mine, located in the Degaña municipality of Asturias, resulting in five fatalities and four serious injuries, according to the Principality of Asturias Emergency Service (SEPA).
The deceased individuals, aged between 32 and 54, were residents of Leon province, four from Villablino and one from Fabero.
In light of the incident, both Asturias and Castilla y León have declared two days of official mourning.
The tragedy unfolded in an aging coal mine where months prior, the regional government granted exploration rights to Blue Solving to analyze mineral resources and potentially justify future production.
According to governmental sources, initial investigations are focusing on a gas explosion caused by firedamp, a highly flammable gas typically detected with equipment that may not always be fully reliable.
The names of the deceased have been confirmed as Jorge Carro, Rubén Souto Robla, Amadeo Bernabé, Iván Radio, and David Álvarez.
A chapel of rest for the victims will be established on Tuesday at the municipal sports center in Villablino, while the burial for the fifth victim will take place in Torre del Bierzo, also in Leon province.
Emergency response teams, including firefighters from Asturias, the HUNOSA Mining Rescue Brigade, and the Civil Guard, along with a canine unit, were dispatched to the scene.
Families of the deceased and injured gathered at the mine entrance, expressing frustration over the lack of information surrounding the accident.
Authorities, including the President of the Principality, Adrián Barbón, have requested privacy for the families, emphasizing the emotional toll on those affected, particularly parents with young children.
Belarmina Díaz, the Minister for Ecological Transition and Industry, indicated that a thorough investigation would be undertaken, involving not just experts from HUNOSA but also forensic investigators from the Civil Guard based in A Coruña. One of the injured was airlifted to the Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA) in Oviedo, while others were transported to the Villablino hospital and the Carmen and Severo Ochoa Hospital in Cangas del Narcea.
All four injured individuals are reported to be in stable but serious condition.
Family members of those affected have raised concerns regarding the lack of timely communication during the emergency response.
A relative reported that the partner of one victim learned about the incident through television news.
The spokesperson for the Asturian government confirmed that the company was conducting work under a permit linked to potential mineral use in graphite production.
The Civil Guard’s delegate in Asturias, Adriana Lastra, affirmed the principal cause under investigation is the explosion due to firedamp, with law enforcement now actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
She and other government officials, including the Minister of Labour, Yolanda Díaz, have emphasized the need for accountability, stating that no one should lose their life in such a manner in the 21st century.
The 112-Asturias Emergency Coordination Center received reports of the incident at 9:32 AM, with subsequent alerts suggesting mechanical failure had occurred.
In response, the rescue group was activated, deploying medical helicopters and additional specialized units to the scene.
The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, conveyed condolences to the families of the victims via social media, thanking emergency services for their efforts during the rescue operation.
Sánchez expressed heartfelt sympathies toward those grieving the losses, while Díaz extended her condolences and support to those injured.
The Zarréu mine has been a vital component of the local economy for many years, providing jobs and fostering regional economic activity.
The mine was last affected by a fatal incident in 2015 when a worker lost their life due to a tunnel collapse.
Despite advancements in mining safety technologies, accidents related to firedamp continue to occur globally.
A notable incident in Turkey in 2022 claimed the lives of over 40 miners due to a similar explosion.
In Spain, the most recent fatal mining accident occurred a little over two years ago in Súria, Barcelona, resulting in the deaths of three geologists.
The most severe disaster in recent history transpired on August 31, 1995, in the San Nicolás mine in Mieres, Asturias, where 14 miners died in a firedamp explosion.
The deceased individuals, aged between 32 and 54, were residents of Leon province, four from Villablino and one from Fabero.
In light of the incident, both Asturias and Castilla y León have declared two days of official mourning.
The tragedy unfolded in an aging coal mine where months prior, the regional government granted exploration rights to Blue Solving to analyze mineral resources and potentially justify future production.
According to governmental sources, initial investigations are focusing on a gas explosion caused by firedamp, a highly flammable gas typically detected with equipment that may not always be fully reliable.
The names of the deceased have been confirmed as Jorge Carro, Rubén Souto Robla, Amadeo Bernabé, Iván Radio, and David Álvarez.
A chapel of rest for the victims will be established on Tuesday at the municipal sports center in Villablino, while the burial for the fifth victim will take place in Torre del Bierzo, also in Leon province.
Emergency response teams, including firefighters from Asturias, the HUNOSA Mining Rescue Brigade, and the Civil Guard, along with a canine unit, were dispatched to the scene.
Families of the deceased and injured gathered at the mine entrance, expressing frustration over the lack of information surrounding the accident.
Authorities, including the President of the Principality, Adrián Barbón, have requested privacy for the families, emphasizing the emotional toll on those affected, particularly parents with young children.
Belarmina Díaz, the Minister for Ecological Transition and Industry, indicated that a thorough investigation would be undertaken, involving not just experts from HUNOSA but also forensic investigators from the Civil Guard based in A Coruña. One of the injured was airlifted to the Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA) in Oviedo, while others were transported to the Villablino hospital and the Carmen and Severo Ochoa Hospital in Cangas del Narcea.
All four injured individuals are reported to be in stable but serious condition.
Family members of those affected have raised concerns regarding the lack of timely communication during the emergency response.
A relative reported that the partner of one victim learned about the incident through television news.
The spokesperson for the Asturian government confirmed that the company was conducting work under a permit linked to potential mineral use in graphite production.
The Civil Guard’s delegate in Asturias, Adriana Lastra, affirmed the principal cause under investigation is the explosion due to firedamp, with law enforcement now actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
She and other government officials, including the Minister of Labour, Yolanda Díaz, have emphasized the need for accountability, stating that no one should lose their life in such a manner in the 21st century.
The 112-Asturias Emergency Coordination Center received reports of the incident at 9:32 AM, with subsequent alerts suggesting mechanical failure had occurred.
In response, the rescue group was activated, deploying medical helicopters and additional specialized units to the scene.
The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, conveyed condolences to the families of the victims via social media, thanking emergency services for their efforts during the rescue operation.
Sánchez expressed heartfelt sympathies toward those grieving the losses, while Díaz extended her condolences and support to those injured.
The Zarréu mine has been a vital component of the local economy for many years, providing jobs and fostering regional economic activity.
The mine was last affected by a fatal incident in 2015 when a worker lost their life due to a tunnel collapse.
Despite advancements in mining safety technologies, accidents related to firedamp continue to occur globally.
A notable incident in Turkey in 2022 claimed the lives of over 40 miners due to a similar explosion.
In Spain, the most recent fatal mining accident occurred a little over two years ago in Súria, Barcelona, resulting in the deaths of three geologists.
The most severe disaster in recent history transpired on August 31, 1995, in the San Nicolás mine in Mieres, Asturias, where 14 miners died in a firedamp explosion.
Translation:
Translated by AI
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