Serbia: 8 Killed, 20 Injured in Mine Accident

Eight people were killed and 20 others injured in a mine accident in central Serbia, authorities announced on Friday.

The accident in the Soko coal mine occurred shortly after 4 a.m. (0200GMT) when part of the mine pit collapsed, releasing the methane gas inside and trapping the miners, according to the state RTS television and other local media.

“Inspectors, police and all relevant authorities are at the scene, doing what is necessary to determine the cause of this tragedy,” said Serbia's Mining and Energy Minister Zorana Mihailovic.

MIhailovic visited the site and expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims, promising state help.

Drago Milinkovic, the Soko coal mine manager, said initial information suggested a “sudden release of methane” gas into the mining area.

“Soko coal mine is a dangerous coal mine, dangerous from the aspect of methane,” he said. "Security measures are at the highest level in the coal mine, but this time there was a sudden release of methane and simply the monitoring and the equipment that were in place did not help.”