WARSAW: Methane explosions at a coal mine in southern Poland on Wednesday killed four people and injured 19, authorities said.
Seven others were missing. The blasts took place at 12:15 am local time (2215 GMT Tuesday) about 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) under the surface at the Pniowek mine in Pawlowice that is operated by the Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa, or JSW, mining company.
The immediate rescue operation by 13 units of rescuers had to be suspended because of a fire and the need to protect the rescuers, JSW officials said. Contact with seven of the rescuers has been lost during the operation, mine authorities said.
Doctors at the Siemianowice Slaskie hospital that specializes in treating burns say the condition of some of the injured is life-threatening. They have suffered burns to their lungs and to large areas of their bodies.
Poland relies on its own and imported coal for almost 70% of its energy, drawing criticism from the European Union and environmental organisations concerned about climate change. The government recently announced it will end coal imports from Russia by May.