Warsaw: Two miners were killed following a methane eruption at a coal mine in southern Poland, authorities reported on Tuesday. The tragic incident unfolded at the Pniowek coal mine located in the Silesian coal region, within a newly excavated tunnel positioned nearly 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) underground, marking one of the deepest operational levels at the site.

According to Anadolu Agency, Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa (JSW), the state-controlled entity overseeing the mine, indicated that sensors recorded a sudden discharge of methane gas mixed with rock mass shortly after 5 pm local time (1600GMT). At the moment of the eruption, ten miners were engaged in operations using a high-capacity roadheader machine. While eight miners managed to escape independently, contact was lost with the remaining two.

Rescue operations ensued, with teams scouring the affected area for approximately six hours before the two missing miners were found. A doctor on the scene subsequently declared both men deceased. JSW disclosed that the victims were 40 and 41 years old, each possessing over a decade of experience in the mining industry.

This incident elevates the total number of mining fatalities in Poland for the current year to 15, with 12 occurring in hard coal mines, as per industry statistics. The Pniowek mine is recognized as one of Poland's most methane-prone coal mines, a factor that heightens the likelihood of subterranean explosions.

A special commission has been established to delve into the cause and circumstances surrounding the incident. In response, Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed his condolences to the bereaved families through the US social media platform X, communicating that the mine's management ensured psychological and financial aid for the affected relatives. Energy Minister Milosz Motyka also extended his sympathies and promised support to the families in the wake of the tragedy.