The Hlobane Coal Mine Disaster occurred at the Hlobane Colliery, Natal on 12 September 1944. During drilling of a

dyke Dyke (UK) or dike (US) may refer to: General uses * Dyke (slang), a slang word meaning "lesbian" * Dike (geology), a subvertical sheet-like intrusion of magma or sediment * Dike (mythology), ''Dikē'', the Greek goddess of moral justice * Dikes, ...

in a

coal seam Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...

methane Methane ( , ) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula (one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms). It is a group-14 hydride, the simplest alkane, and the main constituent of natural gas. The relative abundance of methane on Eart ...

built up during the night due to insufficient ventilation in the mine. The explosion was said to have been caused by a miner relighting his lamp. He was in charge of monitoring the methane levels and its high levels had extinguished his lamp. The explosion resulted in the deaths of 57 miners and six serious injuries.

References

Mining disasters in South Africa Coal in South Africa Mining in South Africa 1944 in South Africa 1944 mining disasters 1944 disasters in South Africa {{disaster-stub