Tragic events in mines will be investigated thoroughly

As Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stressed, all procedures and the entire situation related to the events in the Pniówek and Zofiówka mines will be reviewed scrupulously.

“We know that today’s equipment and procedures are critical, so I have ordered an extensive, meticulous review of all mining procedures related to mine rescue. This work will be carried out immediately,” the PM said.

Mateusz Morawiecki, at the same time, assured that the Polish state would not leave the miners’ families to fend for themselves.

“I want to ensure that the state will not leave anyone alone either. Children, families, wives of those miners who died at Zofiówka and Pniówek will be taken care of by the Polish state,” informed the PM.

State-of-the-art equipment for rescue teams

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki recalled that the government had increased funding for mine rescue in recent years. He stressed that he could see the effects of these measures in the form of state-of-the-art equipment at the Central Mine Rescue Station in Bytom, which he visited.

The PM also announced new funds if there is a need for additional equipment, but as he added, money is not the most important thing. What is important is to investigate the circumstances of the recent events in the mines.

Events at the Pniówek and Zofiówka mines

On 20 April, two methane explosions occurred at night in the Pniówek mine in Silesia, which ended tragically. From the very first moments, a team of specialists worked at the site, conducting analysis and searching for possible solutions.

On 23 April, at about 3.40 a.m., a tremor accompanied by an outflow of methane occurred in the preparatory works gallery of the Zofiówka mine in Jastrzębie-Zdrój. However, the gas did not ignite or explode. A rescue operation is underway at the site. There were 52 workers in the area, and 42 managed to get out on their own.