Moura inquiries

During the past forty years there have been three mining disasters in the Moura district at a cost of 36 lives.

The first occurred at Kianga Mine on 20 September 1975. Thirteen miners died from an explosion which was found to have been initiated by spontaneous combustion. The mine was sealed and the bodies of the men were never recovered.

The second occurred on 16 July 1986 at Moura No 4 Mine when twelve miners died from an explosion thought to have been initiated by one of two possible sources, namely frictional ignition or a flame safety lamp. The bodies of the miners, in this case, were recovered.

The third of the disasters occurred on 7 August 1994 at Moura No 2 Mine. On this occasion eleven miners died as a result of an explosion. The mine was sealed and, at this time, the bodies have not been recovered.

Given this tragic history, it was inevitable that the inquiry into this third disaster would be the focus of considerable public attention and concern. Whereas it would be incorrect to say, as a consequence, that this Inquiry has been more thorough or exhaustive than the previous two, or for that matter any other mining inquiry, it is the case that it has been required to examine and consider a very large body of evidence and to hear and consider the testimony of a very large number of witnesses. The inquiry acknowledges that it has not been able to be totally thorough from an investigative point of view since it has not been possible to re-enter the mine. However, it would be correct to say that the inquiry has placed the operations, the management and the events leading to the explosion at Moura No 2 Mine under the closest possible scrutiny.

The inquiry wishes to express and place on record its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the men who died as a result of the Moura No 2 explosion. It wishes further, to extend its sympathy to the Moura community for the many lives it has lost to coal mining over the years.

Summary of the accidents: