Entry
The Courrières mine disaster — The coal-dust explosion that swept the galleries of the Courrières Mining Company in 1906
Just after the change of shift, a coal-dust explosion swept in a few seconds through a hundred and ten kilometres of galleries linking three pits of the Courrières Mining Company, at Billy-Montigny, Méricourt and Sallaumines. Rescuers came from Belgium and the Ruhr; the company was accused of putting out the fire before saving the men. On 30 March, thirteen miners came up alive from pit no. 2 after twenty days underground, a fourteenth on 4 April. A general strike spread through the coalfield during the month. (Editorial synthesis)
The Courrières mine disaster took place on 10 March 1906. (source: Encyclopædia Universalis)
The Courrières mine disaster ended in 1,099 dead. (source: Encyclopædia Britannica)
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