Blast at Mine in Asturias Claims Five Lives, Several Hurt
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Synopsis
A devastating explosion in a mine in Asturias, Spain, has resulted in at least five fatalities and multiple injuries. The incident occurred during morning operations, leading to an emergency response and an ongoing investigation.
Key Takeaways
- Explosion occurred at Cerredo mine near Degana.
- At least five confirmed dead and several injured.
- Emergency services deployed for rescue operations.
- Investigation into the explosion's cause is underway.
- Two days of mourning declared by Asturias' President.
Madrid, March 31 (NationPress) A tragic incident occurred in a mine located in the Asturias region of Spain on Monday morning, resulting in the confirmed deaths of at least five individuals and injuring several more.
According to the Spanish Civil Guards, the explosion took place around 9:40 AM local time (0840 GMT) when a machine malfunctioned at the Cerredo mine near the town of Degana.
The incident occurred on the third level of the mine, leading to burns and trauma among the injured, as reported by the Spanish government representative in the region. Three individuals who sustained injuries have been rushed to a hospital in Leon, as per reports from Xinhua news agency.
Emergency response teams, including officers from the Civil Guard, firefighters, and mine rescue personnel, have been dispatched to the location, as stated by the regional government of Asturias.
In a statement, Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, expressed his condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and praised the efforts of emergency responders.
"I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in the mine explosion in Degana, Asturias. I also wish a swift recovery to the injured. My gratitude goes to the emergency services involved in the rescue operations," said Sanchez. An investigation into the explosion's cause is currently in progress.
Local media have reported, citing an Asturian spokesperson, that the workers were engaged in mineral extraction under a permit to produce graphite.
As reported by ABC Espana, this site was a significant mining operation prior to its closure in 2018 and had been intermittently utilized by private companies for anthracite extraction since then.
The total number of individuals present in the mine during the explosion remains unclear.
President of Asturias, Adrian Barbon, announced two days of mourning for the region.
The region's civil protection plan, aimed at managing emergencies, was activated at its lowest level, indicating that the situation is contained and manageable with the available resources. An investigation into the explosion's cause is actively ongoing.
