Poland in mourning after mine disaster
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
23.12.2018 09:00
Sunday was a national day of mourning in Poland, with the country reeling after 12 Poles were killed in a methane blast at a Czech coal mine.
A Polish flag flies at half-staff over the presidential palace in Warsaw on Sunday. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański
A total of 13 miners, including one Czech, were killed and 10 others injured as a result of the explosion at the mine in Karvina, close to the southern Polish border, on Thursday evening.
The explosion took place 800 metres underground.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki travelled to the scene of the disaster on Friday morning and visited injured miners at a hospital in the Czech city of Ostrava.
One injured Pole suffered extensive burns and was in critical condition, according to doctors.
Top Polish and Czech officials have extended their condolences to the families of the victims and promised financial help.
The Polish prime minister has called the disaster “a huge tragedy for all Poles and Czechs.”
Polish President Andrzej Duda wrote on Twitter: “Lord, protect the miners' families. RiP.”
During Sunday’s national day of mourning, flags on public buildings were lowered to half mast.
Mass sports and cultural events have been cancelled.
(gs)
Source: TVP Info, IAR/PAP