A Hunter Valley mine remains closed after an underground fire broke out last night.
The blaze in the new Blakefield South mine near Broke began behind a longwall seam around 7:30pm.
A series of automatic alarms warned workers and all were safely evacuated from the mine without incident.
Xstrata Coal, which owns the mine, is monitoring the fire to determine its cause and severity.
Production has been suspended.
text will be replaced
Was this an explosion or was it a fire?
I am hearing lots of comments locally that workers were blown off their feet by the initial blast indicating a methane explosion and subsequent fire. This isn’t what is being reported in the press. Thank god we haven’t had a Pikes Gully here in Aus.
It doesnt matter what it was that caused the fire, i am just thankful that all the men got out safely. I wouldnt want my husband trapped like those poor men were in NZ. Thank you Xstrata and the CFMEU for the highest Safety Standards in Australian Mining. Hate to think what could have happened if this mine wasnt in Australia.
JayBee you must be a company plant! Australian mines are not protected because they are in Australia.
We are a free democratic society and all our citizens should be protecting each other from the corporate mind control thats being forced upon us by corporate controlled media. There was an explosion, it hasn’t been reported and I cant think why! This is so wrong!