SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS/ACCIDENTS INVOLVING EXTRACTIVES

The extractives sector (oil, gas and mining) has experienced

major incidents that have drawn worldwide attention. Such
incidents have raised concern over safety standards/measures by
the investors in the industry as well as the host and home
countries. This is a brief incident checklist of the most recent
incidents regionally and internationally. The list isnt exhaustive
considering that there are many such incidents both documented
and undocumented. Extractives Baraza will endeavor to
document major incidents in the industry nationally, regionally
and internationally.
AFRICA
1. The Marikana Massacre
Country; South Africa
Brief Background
The Marikana massacre which took place between the 10th of August and the
20th of September 2012, is described as the single most lethal use of force by
South African security forces against civilians, more specifically, mine workers, since
apartheid. The Marikana massacre started as a wildcat strike at a mine owned by
Lonmin in the Marikana area, close to Rustenburg, South Africa in 2012. The event
garnered international attention following a series of violent incidents between the
South African Police Service, Lonmin security and the leadership of the National
Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on the one side and strikers themselves on the other,
which resulted in the deaths of 44 people, 41 of whom were striking mineworkers
killed by police. Also, during the same incident, at least 78 additional workers were
injured. The total number of injuries during the strike remains unknown. In response
to the Lonmin strikers, there were a wave of wildcat strikes across the South African
mining sector.
Current Status
President Jacob Zuma commissioned an inquiry into the shooting to be headed by
former Supreme Court of Appeals Judge Ian Farlam and tasked to "investigate
matters of public, national and international concern arising out of the tragic
incidents at the Lonmin Mine in Marikana." Public hearings were conducted, which
resulted to firing and resolution to try some of the police officers, some rich
business men and compensation to the injured and bereaved.
For more information follow the link provided.

2. 2014 Orkney earthquake

Country; South Africa

Brief Background
The 2014 Orkney earthquake occurred at 12:22:33 SAST on 5 August, with
the epicentre near Orkney, a gold mining town in the Klerksdorp district in
the North West province of South Africa. The shock was assigned a
magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale by the Council for Geoscience (CGS) in
South Africa, making it the biggest earthquake in South Africa since the 1969
Tulbagh earthquake, which had a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale.
There was a single fatality, 31-year-old Mosotho man Leshomo Makhaola,
who died when a wall of an old mining house collapsed on him in Kanana,
North West. An ER24 spokesperson said that miners had reportedly been
trapped in 11 mine shafts at a mine in Orkney; however, subsequent
inspections revealed that the miners at that location were safe. All 3,300
AngloGold Ashanti miners underground at its Great Noligwa and Moab
Khotsong mines near Orkney had been brought to the surface by 19:30 SAST
on 5 August, including those who had been injured. All 34 miners were
treated for minor injuries, including lacerations, contusions and a broken leg,
and discharged from hospital on 6 August.

Current Status
AngloGold Ashanti management had proceeded with the evacuation after
their temporarily interrupted power supply was mostly restored, mine
management had contacted the mine crew underground by telephone and
mine engineers had ensured that the shaft infrastructure was in working
order. AngloGold Ashanti emergency medical staff had treated injured
miners, and counsellors had treated some employees for shock. Mining
operations at their Great Noligwa and Moab Khotsong mines were
subsequently suspended pending safety checks. Mine operations are back to
normal.
For more on the information follow the link provided.
3. Coalbrook mining disaster
Country; South Africa
Brief Background
The worst mining disaster in South Africa occurred in the Coalbrook coal
mine of Clydesdale Colliery on 21 January 1960 at around 19:00 when cave
in occurred about 180 meters underground. About 1 000 miners were in the

mine at the time and 435 died after being trapped the rest escaped from an
incline shaft. The accident was caused by cascading pillar failure (CPF) where
a few pillars fail initially and this increases the load on the adjacent pillars
causing them to fail. This cascading failure caused pillar collapse over an
area covering 324 hectares. Factors contributing to the collapse were the
process of top coaling which raised the height of the tunnels and pillar and
panel mining reducing the size of structures holding up the tunnel roof.
Current Status
Following the disaster, the South African government established Coal Mines
Research Controlling Council (CMRCC) to improve coal mine safety and
research pillar strength, supported by the Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) and the Chamber of Mines Research Organization (COMRO).
For more on the information follow the link provided.
4. 2009 Harmony Gold Mine Deaths
Country; South Africa
Brief Background
The 2009 Harmony Gold mine deaths occurred in late May and early June
2009 in Free State province, South Africa. At least 82 miners, many from
Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, died from inhalation of poisonous
gasses created by a May 18 fire in the mineshaft. In reports from Africa the
dead are being officially defined as "illegal miners" or "trespassers"
onto the mineral-claims of the larger corporate mining operators and market
consortiums which traditionally depend on government-supported mineralextraction concessions and export rights granted in areas such as Free State.
The affected mine (the Eland shaft) is owned by Harmony Gold.
Current Status
Susan Shabangu, South Africa's Minister of Mining, visited the mine on 2 June
2009.[2] She condemned the act of mining illegally but expressed her
sympathies with the relatives of the victims. However, the government
refused to compensate the families of the dead miners, only providing
government mortuary facilities.
For more on the information follow the link provided.
5. Vaal Reefs
Country; South Africa
Brief Background

A mining accident on 10 May 1995 resulted in the death of 104 miners when
a locomotive fell into a lift shaft at the edge of 56 level (1,676 m below
surface), landing on the cage and causing it to plunge 1,500 feet (460 m) to
the bottom of the shaft (2,300 m below surface). It was history's worst ever
elevator disaster.
Current Status
This tragedy brought two key changes to the mining industry. Firstly, the
immediate implementation of the new Health & Safety Act specifically the
five basic rights and secondly, for the first time ever, the stakeholders took
care of the dependants after the death of breadwinners.
For more on the information follow the link provided.
6. Dompoase mine collapse
Country; Ghana
Brief Background
On November 12, 2009 a collapse occurred in an illegal, privately owned gold
mine in Dompoase, Ashanti Region, Ghana. Up to 30 miners were
prospecting the mine when it collapsed because of a landslide. At least 18
workers were killed in the collapse, including 14 women and the owner of the
mine. Officials have described the disaster as the worst mine collapse in
Ghanaian history.
Current Status
Police in the Ghanaian capital of Accra launched an investigation, and looked
into the possibility of criminal negligence. Several mine owners were
charged. The police commander in the Western Region of Ghana, Kojo Antwi
Tabi, called the disaster "the biggest mining tragedy that has ever hit
Ghana". He also stated that he believed the government should take more
measures to control the activities conducted in the mines. Safety measures
in the mine were described as "poor or nonexistent"
For more on the information follow the link provided.
7. Zamfara State lead poisoning epidemic
Country; Nigeria
Brief background
A series of lead poisonings in Zamfara State, Nigeria, led to the deaths of at
least 163 people between March and June 2010, including 111 children.
Health ministry figures state the discovery of 355 cases with 46 percent

proving fatal. This is one of the many lead poisoning epidemics with low and
middle income countries.
Findings
An annual immunization program in Northern Nigeria led to the discovery of
a high number of child deaths in the area. An investigation showed that they
had been digging for gold at the times of their deaths, in an area where lead
is prevalent.
Actions taken
In an effort to halt the epidemic the authorities clamped down on illegal
mining and carried out a clean-up of the area. The number of cases are
documented to have fallen drastically. Education on health and the dangers
of lead mining is also being given to local people.
For more on the information follow the link provided
8. 2011 Nairobi pipeline fire
Country; Kenya
Brief background
The 2011 Nairobi pipeline fire was caused by an explosion secondary to a
fuel spill in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on 12 September 2011. Approximately
100 people were killed in the fire and at least 116 others were hospitalized
with varying degrees of burns. The incident was not the first such pipeline
accident in Kenya, with the Molo fire of 2009 resulting in at least 133
fatalities and hundreds more injured. A fuel tank, located in the industrial
Lunga Lunga area of Nairobi and part of a pipeline system operated by the
state owned Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), had sprung a leak. People in the
adjacent densely populated shanty town of Sinai had started to collect
leaking fuel when at about 10 a.m. a massive explosion occurred at the
scene. There are varying accounts as to the cause of the fire.
Current status
Neither the then had managing director of the KPC, which operates the
pipeline, nor the then energy minister Kiraitu Murungi given any indication of
accepting responsibility. Kiraitu Murungi initially said that the KPC would
compensate the victims, but later the KPC stated it would not do so as it was
"not responsible". In 2008 the KPC had issued an eviction order to nearby
residents, but they refused to leave. In response to protests by students, an
inter-ministerial committee was tasked with gathering names to arrange
relocation when funds became available. KPC sent representatives to inform

the residents of the danger and to make sure holes were not dug. There is
pending legal battle in court over compensation.
For more on the information follow the link provided
9. Chevron Nigeria gas well fire
Country; Nigeria
Brief Background
An offshore gas field in Nigerias Chevrons natural gas rig on the 16th of
January 2012, blew out, killed two people and caused a fire which then
burned for a further 46 days. The accounts claim that workers had been
pleading with Chevron to be evacuated from the platform due to fears that a
disaster was imminent, the accounts then claim Chevron denied the request
for evacuation and demanded that drilling continue despite the fact that
black smoke was billowing out of a borehole.
Current status
Chevron has been hit with a massive lawsuit by residents. Nigerian residents
are suing Chevron Corp., over the offshore gas exploration rig explosion that
killed 2 workers. Chevron was presented with a $5 billion lawsuit in California
federal. The suit is ongoing.
For more on the information follow the link provided
NORTH AMERICA
1. Exxon Valdez, Alaska
Country; United States of America
Brief Background
Oil tanker Exxon Valdez was on its way to Long Beach, California from Prince
William Sound, Alaska. On March 24, 1989, the tanker ran into Bligh Reef,
which ruptured its hull and poured out almost 11 million gallons of crude oil
into the Pacific. Before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 (see the story
at the end of this post), it was the largest one in U.S. coastal waters. For
weeks and months after the spill, oil continued to spread over a large area in
Prince William Sound and beyond.
Results and Current status
Exxon Valdez was a major event that demanded massive clean-up efforts. It
also brought to light the necessity of having regulations for oil tankers, and
led to several tanker reforms.

For more on the information follow the link provided

2. Nexen pipeline, Alberta
Country; Canada
Brief Background
This is one of the largest petroleum spill disasters in the history of Canadas
oil and gas sector. The oil sands giant Nexen has pipelines at its Long Lake,
Alberta operation. On 15 July 2015, one of these pipelines started releasing
what vice president Ron Bailey called emulsion, a mixture of bitumen oil,
water and sand. There is also concern that it could have been diluted
bitumen, which contains carcinogenic chemicals.
Results and Current Status
Almost 5 million liters of this emulsion have been leaked, equivalent to
31,000 barrels. This surpasses the 27 barrels spilled by Enbridge in
Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2010, previously considered the worst land spill in
U.S. history. The government responded by commencing investigations which
have never been concluded to date.
For more on the information follow the link provided
3. The Odyssey, off Nova Scotia
Country; Canada
Brief Background
Odyssey, which previously went by the name Oriental Phoenix, was an oil
tanker in operation from 1971 to November 10, 1988, when an explosion
caused it to sink in the North Atlantic off the coast of Canada. The resulting
spill remains one of the largest oil spills in world history. The tanker was 700
nautical miles (1,300 km; 810 mi) off the coast of the Canadian province of
Nova Scotia when it sank and released 132,157 tons (43 million gallons) of
oil into the ocean. By way of comparison, 4.3 times as much oil was spilled
by the Odyssey as from the much more famous Exxon Valdez.
Results and Current Status
In the immediate aftermath of the ship's sinking, the oil spill covered an area
of 3 miles (4.8 km) x 10 miles (16 km). A much reduced amount of oil
reached shore - in part because of the oil's rapid combustion from the initial
explosion and in part because currents carried the spill across the Atlantic, in
the direction of England, giving the oil a significant amount of time to
dissipate in the rough seas. Because of this, no clean-up operation was
mounted. The Advisory Committee on Marine Pollution of the Sea of the

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea published an analysis of

the spill in their 1990 Marine Pollution Yearbook which noted that the spill
likely had a significant effect on krill in the area, and through them, may
have affected animals further up the food chain.
For more on the information follow the link provided
4. Deepwater Horizon, Gulf of Mexico
Country; United States
Brief Background
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill (also referred to as the BP oil spill, the BP oil
disaster, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and the Macondo blowout) began on
April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico on the BP-operated Macondo Prospect.
Eleven people went missing and were never found and it is considered the
largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry, an
estimated 8% to 31% larger in volume than the previously largest, the Ixtoc I
oil spill. The US Government estimated the total discharge at 4.9 million
barrels (210 million US gal; 780,000 m3). After several failed efforts to
contain the flow, the well was declared sealed on September 19, 2010.
Reports in early 2012 indicated the well site was still leaking.
Results and Current Status
The spill area hosts 8,332 species, including more than 1,270 fish, 604
polychaetes, 218 birds, 1,456 mollusks, 1,503 crustaceans, 4 sea turtles and
29 marine mammals. Between May and June 2010, the spill waters contained
40 times more polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) than before the spill.
PAHs are often linked to oil spills and include carcinogens and chemicals that
pose various health risks to humans and marine life. The PAHs were most
concentrated near the Louisiana Coast, but levels also jumped 23 fold in
areas off Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.
For more on the information follow the link provided.
SOUTH AMERICA
1. 2010 Copiap mining accident
Country; Chile
Brief Background
The 2010 Copiap mining accident, also known then as the "Chilean mining
accident", began in the afternoon of Thursday, 5 August 2010 as a significant
cave-in at the troubled 121-year-old San Jos coppergold mine. The collapse
occurred at 14:00 CLT on 5 August 2010, according to CMSE, the Ministry of

Labor and Social Welfare, the Chilean Undersecretary of Mining. On the day
of the accident, the National Emergencies Office of the Interior Ministry
(ONEMI) released the names of the 33 trapped miners. All the miners were
Chilean nationals apart from Bolivian Carlos Mamani. Laurence Golborne,
Chilean Minister of Mining, was in Ecuador at the time of the disaster and
arrived at the site on 7 August. When the cave-in occurred there were two
groups of workers in the mine. The group nearest the entrance escaped
immediately without incident. A second group of 33 men was deep inside the
mine, including several subcontracted vehicle mechanics who did not
normally work deep within the mine.
Results and current status
Following the accident, a lawsuit was filed against the San Esteban Mining
Company by relatives of those trapped, while a judge froze US$2 million of
its assets. A lawyer for several of the miners' families described this as a
refutation of the company's claims of "not having even enough money to pay
salaries". On 21 October, San Esteban Mining Company Operations Chief
Carlos Pinilla and mine manager Pedro Simunovic issued a signed public
statement insisting that no company official "had the slightest indication that
a catastrophe could occur." Miner Jorge Gallardo asserted that there was no
way the owners could have been unaware of the situation since he recorded
everything and his daily safety reports were signed by Pinilla in person.
For more on the information follow the link provided
2. Bento Rodrigues dam disaster
Country; Brazil
Brief Background
The Bento Rodrigues dam disaster occurred on 5 November 2015, when an
iron ore tailings dam in Bento Rodrigues, a sub district of Mariana, Brazil,
suffered a catastrophic failure, causing flooding and at least 17 deaths. At
least 16 people have been injured. About 60 million cubic meters of iron
waste flowed into the Doce River. Toxic brown mudflows reached the Atlantic
Ocean 17 days later. The total impact and environmental consequences to
the river and the beaches near its mouth, or to the wildlife are still unclear.
This incident has been described as the worst environmental disaster in
Brazil's history.
Results and Current Status
The Brazilian government suspended Samarco's activities immediately after
the disaster. It then fined the mining company R$250 million
(US$66.3million) for the incidentThe fine is preliminary and could be higher if

the two companies were found guilty of water pollution and damages. On
January 2016, the Brazilian government and Samarco reached the
agreement in a fine of R$20 billion (US$4.8 billion). The government was
clear that penalty does not include compensation to people affected by the
disaster, and the cost of recovering the polluted area. In October 2016 it was
reported that Brazilian prosecutors had filed homicide charges against 21
people including top executives of the mining companies Vale and BHP
Billiton.
For more on the information follow the link provided
3. Peruvian Oil spills in the Amazon
Country; Peru
Background Information.
The area in the Amazon Forest affected by the constant oil spills from an old
pipeline. The area has since been branded a sacrifice zone. So far, it is still
not clear how much oil has leaked to this area since it started leaking many
years ago. Transparency has been a challenge to many wishing to get exact
information thus, despite it being a significant event, reports and other
documents detailing.
For more on the information follow the link provided

EUROPE
1. Full City oil spill
Country; Norway
Background information
The Full City Oil Spill is a major fuel oil spill incident that occurred on July 31,
2009 when the bulk carrier Full City ran aground on the island of Sstein /
Saastein south of Langesund, Telemark, Norway. The ship, said to be
operated by COSCO (H.K.) Shipping Co. Ltd., spilled around 700,000 kg, or
200 tons, of heavy fuel oil. The oil contaminated 75 km of Norwegian
coastline, including Langesund, Vestfold, and the Lille Sstein Bird Sanctuary.
Results and current status
There were oil slicks in approximately 200 locations along the shoreline
between Larvik Municipality and Lilles. Thousands of sea birds were covered
in oil, and although volunteers made efforts to save them, many of the birds
had to be shot due to the irreversible damage to their health. The Master and

Third Officer of the ship were both charged with violating the Pollution Act
due to their failure to take adequate measures to prevent pollution. The
Master was sentenced to 6 months with 120 days suspended, and the Third
Officer was sentenced to 60 days with 39 days suspended. As of April 2010
the ship was in Gothenburg for repairs in dry-dock.
For more on the information follow the link provided
2. West Cork oil spill
Country; Ireland
Background Information
The West Cork oil spill was an oil spill off the southern coast of Ireland. The
spill was first identified by the European Maritime Safety Agency's
CleanSeaNet satellite monitoring system on 14 February 2009.[1] An Irish Air
Corps marine patrol aircraft first spotted the slick around the Russian aircraft
carrier Admiral Kuznetsov which was undergoing refueling around the same
time.
Results and current status
The spill threatens birds, dolphins, porpoises and seals that are native to
Ireland's south coast. The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Aquaculture
division called on the relevant local authorities and the Environmental
Protection Agency to ensure that shellfish farmers in counties Cork, Wexford
and Waterford were protected. According to the IFA, over 25% of national
production of mussels and oysters are cultivated in this area. The Bord
Iascaigh Mhara (Irish Fisheries Board) is also testing wild and farmed shellfish
on the southern coast as a precautionary measure. Both the Irish and
Russian authorities stated that so far the spill has not affected fishing areas
or coastal habitats.
For more on the information follow the link provided
3. Lassing mining disaster
Country; Austria
Background information
The mining disaster at Lassing occurred the morning of 17 July 1998. The
accident in the Upper Styrian municipality of Lassing was the worst of its
kind in Austria since 1945. On 17 July 1998 the roof of an illegal level
collapsed. Water poured in and caused a mudslide to break into the mine. At
the surface this became evident as a house in the village of Moos, under
which the mine was located, slowly began to collapse and sink into the

sinkhole being formed. The crater grew larger and deeper and gradually 2
houses were destroyed and 18 damaged. After the accident the houses in
the immediate vicinity were demolished. At this time 34 people worked at
the Naintscher Mineralwerken, including Georg Hainzl, who was probably
buried in a rest-chamber during the first mudslide. Initially there was
telephone contact to the 24-year-old miner, but then he was cut off. A rescue
party of nine miners and a geologist went that same day into the mine.
When, around 10 p.m. the second mudslide caused the mine to implode, the
"horror in slow motion" began. The crater grew larger, lights went out, and
lamp posts leaned over at an angle. And in addition, the rescue squad was
now missing.
Results and current status
Soon it was reported that there was no way of saving the eleven victims. An
order of special drills from Germany was cancelled by the management.
Rescue efforts were sluggish. Outside help was not wanted. In charge of
drilling was the technician, Leopold Abraham of the OMV. Then the "Miracle
of Lassing" occurred. The first miner to be buried, Georg Hainzl, was rescued
after ten days and was found in surprisingly good health. His rescue was
achieved by a German company that had previously worked with OMV and
had a suitable drill rig available that, unlike the OMV equipment, was suitable
for large diameters and rather shallow depths. With the help of logistics and
other departments of the OMV the hole was drilled. The decompression
chamber specially made to measure by the OMV was not needed, as no
overpressure existed in the survival chamber in which Georg Hainzl found
himself, something that could only be ascertained after the drilling. The man
who subsequently became Lower Austria's fire chief, Josef Buchta, was
heavily involved in the construction of this decompression chamber. The ten
men in the rescue team, however, remained in the mine and were declared
dead. In 2000, the search for their bodies was called off
For more on the information follow the link provided
ASIA
1. 2011 Bohai Bay oil spill
Country; China
The 2011 Bohai bay oil spill was a series of oil spills that began on June 4,
2011 at Bohai Bay. The spill itself however was not publicly disclosed until a
month later. There were suspicions of official cover-ups by the State Oceanic
Administration (SOA).
Spills

1st oil spill

On June 4, 2011 the Penglai 19-3 oilfield caused an oil spill from a sea floor
leak that lasted until June 7.
2nd oil spill
On June 17 a second oil spill that occurred at the Penglai 19-3 oilfield, but
was contained within 48 hours. By the second leak, it was reported that a
total of 840 square kilometers of first grade clean water in Bohai Bay was
polluted.
3rd oil spill
A third leak took place on July 12 with the Suizhong 36-1 oil field. This
occurred just one day after the Huizhou refinery explosion incident. In total
the leaks contaminated a total of 4,250 square kilometers. The media has
described the spill to be six times the size of Singapore.
Results and Current status
Outside of the spill area, dead seaweed and rotting fish can be seen around
Nanhuangcheng Island in Shandong province. "The oil, containing toxic
substances and heavy metals, will greatly affect the growth of marine lives
that live on the seabed, such as clams, scallops and some kinds of crabs,"
Xinhua reported last week quoting Cui Wenlin, director of the environmental
monitoring centre with the North China Sea branch of the SOA. Bohai is a
half-closed sea with comparatively low self-clean ability due to limited water
exchange with the outside, he added. The environmental monitoring centre
Cui directs has been monitoring the impacts of the oil spills on the Bohai's
water quality, seabed sediments and marine lives.
For more on the information follow the link provided
2. 2007 South Korea oil spill
Country; South Korea
The MT Hebei Spirit oil spill was a major oil spill in South Korea that began on
the morning of 7 December 2007 local time, with ongoing environmental and
economic effects. Government officials called it South Korea's worst oil spill
ever, surpassing a spill that took place in 1995. This oil spill was about onethird of the size of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. At about 7:30 local time on 7
December 2007, a crane barge owned by Samsung Heavy Industries being
towed by a tug collided with the anchored Hong Kong registered crude
carrier Hebei Spirit, carrying 260,000 tonnes (290,000 short tons) of crude
oil. The incident occurred near the port of Daesan on the Yellow Sea Coast of
Taean County. The barge was floating free after the cable linking it to the tug

snapped in the rough seas. Although no casualties were reported, the

collision punctured three of the five tanks aboard the Hebei Spirit and
resulted in the leaking of some 10,800 tonnes (11,900 short tons) of oil. The
remaining oil from the damaged tanks was pumped into the undamaged
tanks and the holes were sealed
Results and current status
It was initially believed the oil spill would not spread due to the cold winter
temperatures. However, unseasonably warm weather, combined with strong
waves and unexpected wind directions, caused the spill to expand beyond
initial expectations. On 9 December it was reported that the oil slick was
already 33 km long and 10 m wide and 10 cm (4 in) thick in some areas. It
was also reported that at least 30 beaches have been affected and over half
of the region's sea farms are believed to have lost their stocks due to the
spill. Sinduri Dune, a South Korean natural treasure, is reported to have been
saturated by the spill. The South Korean government declared a state of
disaster in the region. The cost of cleanup has been estimated at 300 billion
South Korean won (US$330 million). As of 4 January 2008, the Navy had been
deployed and thousands of military personnel to help clean up the spill, in
addition to civilian aid.. By January 2008, approximately 4,153 tons of crude
oil spilled had been collected by utilizing some 268,710 kilograms of oil
absorbents and other cleanup devices.
For more on the information follow the link provided
3. 2013 Babao Coal Mine explosions
Country; China
The 2013 Babao Coal Mine explosions occurred in the Babao Coal Mine in
Jiangyuan District of the Baishan City, Jilin, China. A total of 53 people lost
their lives in the explosions. The Babao Coal Mine is a state-owned colliery
under the Tonghua Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. The first explosion occurred on
March 29, 2013 at about 22:36 local time. The explosion caused 36 people
dead. 13 people were rescued. The original report of the first explosion was
found to have hidden the death of 7 people. The second explosion occurred
on April 1, 2013 at about 10:00 local time.
Results and current status
Preliminary report said that 6 people died and 11 were missing in the
explosion. Later news coverage reported that all the 17 people had died in
the explosion. It was reported that the second accident occurred when a
rescue team was dispatched without waiting for instructions and having a
sound plan and should have been preventable.

For more on the information follow the link provided

4. Marcopper mining disaster

Country; The Philippines

The Marcopper Mining Disaster occurred on March 24, 1996, on the
Philippine island of Marinduque, a province of the Philippines located in the
Mimaropa region. It remains one of the largest mining disasters in Philippine
history. A fracture in the drainage tunnel of a large pit containing leftover
mine tailings led to a discharge of toxic mine waste into the Makulapnit-Boac
river system and caused flash floods in areas along the river.
Results and current status
One village, Barangay Hinapulan, was buried in six feet of muddy floodwater,
causing the displacement of 400 families. Twenty other villages had to be
evacuated. Drinking water was contaminated killing fish and freshwater
shrimp. Large animals such as cows, pigs and sheep were overcome and
killed. The flooding caused the destruction of crops and irrigation channels.
Following the disaster, the Boac River was declared unusable. T he effects of
the incident were so devastating that a United Nations assessment mission
declared the accident to be a major environmental disaster.
For more on the information follow the link provided