MITSUI COAL. HOLDINGS PTY LTD n and disaster, Japan gos The Mitsui Miike coal dust explosion on 9 November 1963 was the second deadliest coal mining disaster in Japan. 458 miners were killed in the accident and twice as many were permanently injured. Monetary compensotion was small. ~ Descrint A memorial ceremonywas held on 9 Hlovarber 2013 9 markthe 0th anniversary ofthe countrys worst ming acldent Inthe postwar fra 2) An expsion in 19632 he es) Mle oa mine in Outs, Fukuoka Prafecure, ane Arse, Kumsmete Prefecture whlch uses te becne ofthe countrys largest, lled 458 workers Another 839, suffered carbon monoxide polsoning. The mine, which closed downin 1987, was operated by isu tning Co. On November, 1963, the explosion occured in amine tunnel oughly $00 meters below the ine ground level entrance. The bast and Fame caused roof fallin ‘many area inthe tunnel, which then quick filled with carbon Imoneaide,Itwas the worst pastwar mine disaster Lackof safety provisions to prevent coal dst was the maln cause Coal dust wasthe ‘ute Coal duet explosions ate the worst type of explosion because there isa grest amount of carbon mononide produced. A 2 ezult of this, many mine workers continue ta suffer from the long-term ater: effect of carbon monadde posoring even they are lucky enough tw be rescued alive ethane qas explosions create carbon monoxide ‘when the density of the gasis high, but i there isnot much gs itis note often than nat dapersedin the ar However, in coal dust explosions th tory ina wry diferent one Coal dur, bing 2zlid rather than ages, doesnot burn completely and high densty coal- use clouds can be formed. Ths prevents adequate ar circulation, contributing to the production of carbon monealde. Even Fa col (dure explsion does net zpresd throughout ha angth and breadth of the mine, he resulting carbon maneaide gas does in Fact spread in thls way and allche workers are poltoned. The Nike min explosion of 1963 was an axample ofthis. [1] It was common knowiedge that maintaining the ste clezn and making the ares most by watering could prevent such explosions. These easy preventive measures had been n place on a routine basis. However after strong about depute in 1960, theincufient number of safety perconnel cauced ty the employer's productivity ist polly, falledto take those measures. n 1955 coals a primary energy source provided 50 pet ‘cent of energy need in Japan, but after the Mike abour depute and tina explosion, thelvel decreased, dropping to 1.4 percent by 1975, wile tha uce of ol increazad fom 202 ta 72.3 percent. [1 The 2cident was second worst in Japanese mininghistoryandane of the worst ever recorded inthe word, nd recultedina series of lewis thet dragged on until 1957, when ts reported that eech oF the victim Famies wes enarded the modest sum of USS4,£002],