Two miners dead, 6 missing after earthquake hits Polish mine

File photographs show Rudna copper mine in southwestern Poland, where at least six miners are missing and two dead after an earthquake, according to state news agency PAP. (Photo courtesy of Reuters video file)
File photographs show Rudna copper mine in southwestern Poland, where at least six miners are missing and two dead after an earthquake, according to state news agency PAP. (Photo courtesy of Reuters video file)

 

POLKOWICE, Poland (Reuters) — At least six miners are missing and two died after an earthquake occurred at the Rudna mine in Polkowice in southwestern Poland, state news agency PAP reported on Tuesday (November 29).

An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 struck at 9:09 p.m. (2009 GMT), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It said the quake was very shallow, only 10 km (6.2 miles) deep, which would have magnified its effect at the mine belonging to state-run copper producer KGHM.

“There were 16 people in the danger zone. Some of them were walked out,” a spokeswoman for the company was quoted as saying by private radio RMF FM.

Among nine people evacuated one man died, according to media reports. Rescuers also found another miner who died underground.

Three miners who were injured the most are in hospital, their condition is stable, and their life is not threatened, according to RMF FM. They suffered backbone and head injuries.