LIGHTNING IN A COAL MINE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1929, Page 5

LIGHTNING IN A COAL MINE

The atmosphere on the West Coast on Tuesday was exceedingly sultry and oppressive, and a thunderstorm was nc>t unexpected, states an exchange. At about 3 p.m. the lightning and thunder commenced, followed in the evening by heavy rain. The lightning entered the Liverpool State Mine at Eewanui by means of the rails along the haulage road, and gave the men a most unpleasant and alarming experience. One of them received a slight shock, but soon recovered. Under the circumstances, the truckers decided that itj was unsafe to remain in. the mine, and they ceased work, the miners being obliged to 'follow suit. On Wednesday the atmospheric conditions continued to be threatening, and the truckers deClined to enter the mine, with the re[sult that about 200 men were affected. Questioned as to the possibility of lightning causing an explosion in a mine, an expert stated that it was possible, but the chances of such an occurrence were very remote. In the first place, the lightning would have to travel to the extreme end of the haulage road, to the working places, as gas could not accumulate in the main airways. Even if the lightning &ia penetrate to the working places, it was unlikely that there would be an accumulation of gas of the right mixture, sufficient to be ignited, by the lightning flash.