Hundreds of feet below the surface man has toiled for millennia to unearth the hidden treasures our plant has to office. For thousands of years people have stared in the ink black abyss, ready for another day of horrendous heat and claustrophobia. Lowered down into the bowels of the earth into a confusing labyrinth of tunnels and warrens sometimes Ladened with riches, sometimes ladened with death. Whether it be precious metals like gold and silver or mundane elements like tin and coal humanity has delved below to harness vast mineral deposits that have sometime driven our species to greater hights. This Often dangerous practice has built fortunes and extinguished many lives and today the latter will take centre stage.
Hi everyone and welcome back to the dark history podcast where we explore the darkest parts of human history. hope everyone is well I’m Rob your host as always. Welcome to the new episode, The Tragedies Below The Surface, yes this really is a podcast episode about mines but hopefully,my dear listeners, you will see past this slightly beige topic and listen to the many tales of death and destruction that you’ve come to expect of this show and this age old human practice has given over the century’s. So without further ado please sit back and relax next to the fire for more dark history.
Coal, is a sedimentary rock primarily composed of carbon, along with various other elements such as hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. It forms from the remains of plants that lived and died millions of years ago, accumulating in swamps and marshes. Over time, the organic material underwent decomposition and transformation.
This rock single handedly tossed the human race onto its back and pushed it into the new dawn of the Industrial Revolution. This fossil fuel played a crucial role in powering steam engines, factories, and electricity generation which allowed man to make the world feel a little smaller.
It was coal that was the life blood of the idilic Welsh village of Aberfan. it would be coal that would bring this picturesque village its and the UKs worst mining disaster.
the Merthyr Vale Colliery was sunk on 23 August 1869 by John Nixon and partners, Aberfan consisted of two cottages and an inn frequented by local farmers and bargemen. By 1966 its population had grown to approximately 5,000, most of whom were employed in the coal industry.
The first spoil from the coal mine was deposited on the valley's lower slopes, east of the canal, but during the 1910s the first tip was started on the western slopes, above the canal line and the village. By 1966 there were seven spoil heaps, comprising approximately 2.6 million cu yd or 2.0 million m3 of waste. Tips 4 and 5 were conical mounds at the apex of the slope, although Tip 4 was misshapen from an earlier slip; the remaining five were lower down; all were directly above the village. Tip 7 was the only one being used in 1966. About 111 feet (34 m) high, it contained 297,000 cubic yards of spoil, which included 30,000 cubic yards of tailings—waste from the chemical extraction of coal, fine particles of coal and ash which took on properties similar to quicksand when wet.
Tip 4 at Aberfan, which had been used between 1933 and 1945, was large, and had been started on boggy ground between two streams. At the time of its planning, the Merthyr Tydfil borough engineer thought that despite the position, it would be unlikely to avalanche. Following some ground movements in the tip in the early 1940s, a drainage channel was dug in early 1944. In November that year part of the tip slid 1,600 feet down the mountain to stop approximately 500 feet above the village.
During the first three weeks of October 1966 there were 6.5 inches of rainfall, nearly half of which was in the third week. During the night of 20 and 21 October the peak of Tip 7 subsided by 9 to 10 feet and the rails on which the spoil was transported to the top of the tip fell into the resulting hole. The spoil movement was discovered at 7:30 am by the first members of the morning shift manning the heaps. One of the workers walked to the colliery to report the slip; he returned with the supervisor for the tips, and it was decided that no further work would be done that day, but that a new tipping position would be decided on the following week.
At 9:15 am a significant amount of water-saturated debris broke away from tip 7 and flowed downhill at 11–21 miles per hour in waves 20–30 feet high. Approximately 140,000 cubic yards of spoil slid 700 yards down the mountain, destroying two farm cottages and killing the occupants. Around 50,000 cubic yards travelled across the canal and railway embankment and into the village. The flow destroyed two water mains buried in the embankment and the additional water further saturated the spoil. Those who heard the avalanche said the sound reminded them of a low-flying jet or thunder.
It’s at this point that this disaster would turn into an utter tragedy. As the wall of debris tore through the village it would crash full force onto The Pantglas Junior School on Moy Road, demolishing and engulfing much of the structure and filling classrooms with thick mud, sludge and rubble. The village would see the deaths of 109 children, from 240 attendees, and five teachers. Unfortunately, The pupils of Pantglas Junior School had arrived only minutes earlier for the last day before the half-term holiday, which was due to start at 12 midday. The teachers had just begun to record the children's attendance in the registers when the landslide hit.
After the landslide stopped, local residents rushed to the school and began digging through the rubble, moving material by hand or with garden tools. The first casualties from the wreckage of the school arrived at St Tydfil's Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil at 9:50 am; the remaining rescued casualties all arrived before 11:00 am: 22 children, one of whom was dead on arrival, and 5 adults. A further 9 casualties were sent to the East Glamorgan General Hospital. No survivors were found after 11:00 am. Of the 144 people who died in the disaster, 116 were children, mostly between the ages of 7 and 10; 109 of the children died inside Pantglas Junior School. Five of the adults who died were teachers at the school. An additional 6 adults and 29 children were injured.
The disaster had a profound impact on the community and the nation as a whole, leading to widespread shock and grief.
The tragedy prompted investigations into the causes of the disaster, revealing that the tip had been poorly managed and that warnings about its instability had been ignored. The disaster also led to changes in regulations and legislation regarding mining waste disposal to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The Aberfan disaster remains a stark reminder of the potential consequences of neglecting safety measures and proper waste management.
The Benxihu Colliery Mining Disaster, also known as the Honkeiko Colliery Disaster, stands as one of the most tragic mining accidents in history. It occurred on April 26, 1942, in the coal mine near Benxi, Liaoning Province, China, during the Japanese occupation.
The disaster was triggered by a massive coal dust explosion, followed by a series of coal dust and gas explosions, which ultimately resulted in widespread devastation. The dust explosion in the mine sent flames bursting from the mine shaft entrance. Miners' relatives rushed to the site but were denied entry by a cordon of Japanese guards, who erected electric fences to keep them out. In an attempt to curtail the fire underground, the Japanese shut off the ventilation and sealed the pit head. Witnesses say that the Japanese did not evacuate the pit fully before sealing it, trapping many Chinese workers underground to suffocate in the smoke.
It took workers ten days to remove all the corpses and rubble from the shaft. The dead were buried in a mass grave nearby. Many victims could not be properly identified due to the extent of the burns. The Japanese at first reported the death toll to be 34. Initial newspaper reports were short, as few as 40 words, and downplayed the scale of the disaster, characterizing it as a minor event. Later the Japanese erected a monument to the dead. This stone gave the number of dead as 1,327. The exact number of casualties is disputed, but it’s estimated that between 1,500 and 1,549 miners lost their lives in this catastrophic event. The explosion was so powerful that it caused a tremendous shockwave, collapsing tunnels, and trapping workers underground.
The Benxihu disaster exposed several issues contributing to the tragedy. The mine had substandard safety measures, inadequate ventilation, and improper equipment, all of which increased the risk of explosions. The Japanese authorities, who were overseeing the mine during their occupation of China, were criticized for their negligence in ensuring proper safety standards. The Japanese continued to operate the mine until the end of World War II in 1945, when they were defeated and forced to withdraw from China. Following the Japanese withdrawal, the Chinese workers took control of the site. With the liberation after the war, the Soviet Union investigated the accident. They found that only some of the workers died directly from the gas and coal-dust explosion. Most deaths were from carbon monoxide poisoning produced when the Japanese closed the ventilation and sealed the pit head after the initial explosion. The Benxihu Colliery Mining Disaster remains the worlds worst mining disaster.
The Courrières Mining Disaster, was one of the most devastating industrial accidents in history, it took place on March 10, 1906, in the town of Courrières, in the Pas-de-Calais region of France. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the perilous conditions that miners faced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The disaster unfolded within the walls of the Courrières coal mine, which was one of the largest and most important coal mines in Europe at the time. It was a complex labyrinth of tunnels and shafts that extended deep beneath the ground. The mine was operated by the Compagnie des Mines de Courrières, and it employed thousands of miners who toiled tirelessly to extract coal from the earth.
On that fateful day in 1906, disaster struck when a massive explosion erupted underground. The explosion, believed to be triggered by a combination of coal dust and methane gas, created a devastating shockwave that ripped through the tunnels. The force of the explosion caused roofs to collapse, tunnels to cave in, and fires to ignite. The entire mine was engulfed in chaos and destruction
Tragically, the initial explosion claimed the lives of over a thousand miners almost instantaneously. But the disaster’s toll did not end there. In the days that followed, rescue efforts were hampered by poor communication, inadequate equipment, and treacherous conditions. Despite the valiant efforts of rescuers, many of whom were fellow miners risking their lives to save their colleagues, the death toll continued to rise.
The Courrières Mining Disaster ultimately claimed the lives of approximately 1,099 miners, making it one of the deadliest mining accidents in history. The disaster sent shockwaves throughout France and the world, prompting discussions about mine safety, workers’ rights, and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
The aftermath of the disaster led to important changes in mining regulations and safety practices. It highlighted the urgent need for improved ventilation, better communication systems, and enhanced emergency protocols in mines. The tragedy at Courrières served as a catalyst for improved labor conditions and safety measures in mines across Europe and beyond.
As we reflect on the Courrières Mining Disaster, we remember the lives lost and the sacrifices made by those who risked everything to save their fellow miners. The disaster stands as a somber reminder of the human toll of industrial accidents and the ongoing importance of prioritizing worker safety and well-being in all industries.
The Monongah mining disaster, an event etched deeply in the annals of American industrial history, unfolded on December 6, 1907, in the quiet town of Monongah, nestled in the rugged terrain of West Virginia. This catastrophe, a harrowing amalgamation of human tragedy and industrial negligence.
On that fateful winter morning, the Fairmont Coal Company’s No. 6 and No. 8 mines were bustling with activity, as men of varied backgrounds and aspirations delved into the earth’s belly in pursuit of the black gold that fueled the nation’s burgeoning industries. Deep within the bowels of the earth, miners toiled amidst dust, darkness, and the ever-present specter of danger.
Then, with a deafening roar, disaster struck. An explosion of unprecedented magnitude reverberated through the underground passages. The very foundations of the mine shook, and a violent shockwave rippled through the intricate network of tunnels, snuffing out life and hope in its path. The initial explosion, a deadly cocktail of methane gas and coal dust ignited by a spark of undetermined origin, laid the groundwork for an even more catastrophic coal dust explosion, a phenomenon known all too well to the mining communities of the time.
In a matter of moments, the lives of hundreds of miners were irrevocably altered. Many met their end instantly, crushed or burned beyond recognition. Others, unfortunate survivors of the initial blast, were left to grapple with the acrid fumes, collapsing tunnels, and the agonizing reality of imminent peril. The underground labyrinth, once echoing with the sounds of men and machines, had transformed into a claustrophobic tomb.
As the dust settled and the chaos subsided, the true magnitude of the disaster became painfully evident. An estimated 362 souls had perished, leaving behind shattered families and a grief-stricken community. Monongah was engulfed in mourning, the air thick with grief, anger, and a profound sense of loss.
The aftermath of the Monongah disaster was as momentous as the event itself. It served as a catalyst for change, forcing the nation to confront the grim realities of lax safety regulations and unchecked corporate practices. The tragedy spurred the creation of the United States Bureau of Mines, an institution tasked with improving safety standards, conducting research, and disseminating knowledge to prevent such calamities from recurring. The Monongah mining disaster still to this day is the worst mining disaster in American history.
Thank you everyone for taking the time out of your day to listen to this dark episode. I would like to think I bring an eclectic mix of episodes to this podcast. On the surface, no pun intended, the topic of mining could be deemed quite boring or mundane and it was only because I was on a little fact finding mission that I stumbled across some of these stories. Myself I am always hunting for new and obscure stories for various projects or just marous curiosity, so when I did eventually read some of these I wanted to bring them to you.
These stories are just the worst of the many mining disaster’s from all over the world. The vast majority of these tales come from developing countries around the turn of the 20th century and you would be forgiven to think they were the only cases but as recently as 2014 there have been major mining disasters. In this case The Soma disaster was a mine fire accident in a large coal mine in Soma, Manisa Province, Turkey. This is the worst mining disaster in Turkey history. The fire broke out on May 13, 2014, local time, with 301 people have been confirmed dead and 80 injured. Turkey's largest trade union called a strike after the accident, venting their anger and discontent with the government. In 2008, a mine landfill in Linfen, Shanxi Province, China, collapsed after heavy rains. The serious mudslide caused 277 deaths, 4 missing and 33 injured. At that time, 5,300 police and rescuers used more than 110 excavators to find survivors, and 2,100 medical workers provided medical services at the scene. So you can see that mining is still incredible dangerous even with all of our safety measures and modern technology.
Maybe because the topic is quite niche would explain why I have never heard some of these stories but I feel it would be a disservice to forget these tales.
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