Myanmar mine collapse kills 8

A COAL mine located at the border of Minbu and Ngape townships in Myanmar’s Magway Region collapsed on Tuesday, killing eight people.

According to rescue workers, the eight workers included a Chinese national, but only six corpses had been dug out from the rubble as of the evening of Tuesday.

Several workers were also injured when the events that led to the cave-in of the 225-metre-deep mine.

The workers said that it happened when the ventilation pipe burst open and the support beams broke, although it is still uncertain whether the flailing pipe was the reason for the destruction of the beams.

Workers from other nearby mines said they heard a huge explosion and that there might have been an explosion from within the mines that caused the collapse.

One of the rescue workers told the Daily Eleven that the last two corpses will take effort to get to as the rubble must be cleared away first and then a way in must be built for safe entry.

Aung Kyaw Lwin, manager of mine operator Han Htet, said: “We think that a strong burst of air released when the ventilation pipe broke, triggering the subsequent collapse of the mine. The fire department, the police, the Red Cross and other volunteers have been helping with the efforts. But they will have to fix the support pillars first and foremost before venturing deeper into the mines. We will be providing support to the families of the deceased.”

The coal mine has in its employ over 20 local workers and seven Chinese workers. Amongst the dead, six were local workers while the last two are a Chinese man and his translator.