The 2009 Handlová mine blast occurred in the Handlová coal mine, Trenčín Region, Slovakia, on the morning of 10 August 2009. Twenty people were killed, nine others suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital.[1][2] All are thought to be Slovaks.[3] The incident is the deadliest mining disaster in Slovakia's history since the country's independence in 1993.[2][4] Only 12 people had been killed while mining in Slovakia during the previous twelve years.[3][4][5]
The incident happened in an old underground shaft belonging to Hornonitrianske Bane Prievidza, a.s.,[3][5] the largest mining company in Slovakia, located at approximately 330 metres (1,080 ft).[6][7] Contact was said to have been lost at around 9:30 in the morning on 10 August 2009.[7][8] Nine of the dead were fighting a fire backed up by eleven reinforcements which had broken out when the explosion occurred.[2][9][10] Gases which the fire released caused the explosion to occur as the men fought the flames.[6] Six bodies were quickly recovered.[9] Three more bodies were recovered afterwards.[6] Relatives have gathered to see the bodies of their loved ones be recovered.[10]
The Slovakian Government met at an extraordinary session on 11 August 2009.[11] Prime Minister Robert Fico declared an official day of mourning for the following day and gave orders for an investigation into the incident to take place, calling it "a huge tragedy".[1][5][6][11][12] State flags were lowered at half mast during the mourning period.[11] It was the fourth national day of mourning in Slovakia's history and the first since a killer bus crash in February 2009.[13] Relatives of the victims will also be compensated by the government.[6] Most people in the town of Handlová, which has a population of 18,000, know someone who works in the mine.[8] A black flag hung in the town after the incident as the townspeople remembered the victims.[8]
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko sent a telegram of condolence: "I wish to share the pain of loss as Ukraine has experienced similar catastrophes not once. On behalf of the Government and from me personally I ask to retell the words of compassion and support to the families and relatives of the deceased miners".[14]
The incident happened near Nováky where four miners were killed by a shaft collapse in 2006.[12]