Explosion claims four lives in Georgian mining town

Four miners are dead and six others injured after an explosion occurred at Mindeli mine in the Georgian town of Tkibuli on 16 June.

According to the Georgian Interior Ministry, the accident was allegedly caused by a methane explosion, which in turn caused the walls and upper part of the mine to deform and collapse.

Four miners between the ages of 30 and 57 sustained lethal injuries and died at the scene.

Six more between the ages of 23 and 57 were injured.

Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze ordered all Tkibuli mine operations to be suspended until the completion of an investigation to be carried out in participation with international experts. There are 25 mines in Tkibuli.

Charges on violation of safety rules in mountain, rescue or other production operations have been brought forward in reaction to the incident. The management of the mine was summoned for questioning.

This is the third tragedy this year in Tkibuli. In 2018 alone 16 workers have lost their lives. In total, more than 30 people have died since 2010 at the Mindeli mines:

• Four miners were killed as a result of an explosion on 4 March 2010.
• Three  miners were killed and seven received various severe injuries due to an explosion on 27 August 2010.
• Two miners were killed and four more were seriously injured as a result of a collapse on 6 November 2011.
• An explosion killed one miner on 22 January 2011.
• Another miner died as a result of an accident on 13 October 2013.
• A worker died at a coal deposit in February 2015.
• A worker was found dead in October 2016.
• Four workers were killed during reparations carried out on a freight elevator on 7 May 2017. The accident was caused by a broken cable.
• Six people killed and three more were injured because of a collapse of cover on 5 April 2018.
• Four dead after an accident on 9 May 2018.
• Two miners died working in an open pit on 2 June 2018.