Injured Polish miners still in Czech hospital

One of the miners is still in critical condition with deep burns on 50 percent of his body.

The other, who suffered burns to 10 percent of his body, is reported to be stable and communicating with doctors.

Twelve of the 13 workers killed in the explosion at the coal mine in Karvina, close to the southern Polish border, on December 20, were Poles.

A special account has been set up for 10 children who lost their fathers in the blast, and another account established by the OKD mining company is intended to help the families of the victims.

The Czech prime minister, Andrej Babiš, has been quoted as saying he expects OKD to compensate the victims’ families. He added that the Czech government would meet this obligation if the company could not, according to media reports.

Although work resumed on Thursday in parts of the mine unaffected by the blast, the site of the disaster is still being visited by Polish relatives of those who died in the explosion. People are lighting candles and paying their respects, strengthening the bond between the mining communities on both sides of the border, media have reported.

Meanwhile, prosecutors in Gliwice, southern Poland, have opened an investigation into the causes of the blast.

According to unofficial data, several thousand Poles are employed in coal mines in the Czech Republic.

(ab/gs)