Two injured after explosion in German mine
08 November 2019
An explosion in a mine in eastern Germany trapped 35 workers and injured two on November 8. The blast happened in Teutschenthal, southwest of Berlin and trapped the workers 700 metres (2,300 feet) underground.
Representative image: Shutterstock
The workers took refuge in safe areas of the mine and were supplied with oxygen until they were rescued by the fire services a few hours later. According to a local broadcaster, one of the injured workers is in a serious condition.
All work at the facility has stopped as the mining authority investigates the incident. The cause of the blast is unknown, but local media reported the most likely cause was a mixture of gases being released into the mine.
The facility, situated near the city of Halle, was a potash salt mine before being closed in 1982. Since then, mine has been used to deposit mining waste. Around 100 people work the Teutschenthal facility which has been a subsidiary of the Geiger Group since 2008.
