Belle Isle Salt Mine Explosion
USA /
Louisiana /
Patterson /
World
/ USA
/ Louisiana
/ Patterson
explosion site, place with historical importance, disaster site, salt mine
Belle Isle Salt Mine Explosion
On June 8, 1979 in Franklin Louisiana (St. Mary Parish), 5 men were killed in the Belle Isle Salt Mine. Access to the mine is off limits now, but at the visitor center in Franklin, there is a magnificent statue dedicated to those that died in the event.
According to the United Stated Mine Rescue Association:
Shortly before 11:00 p.m. on June 8, 1979, a scheduled blast was initiated in the Belle Isle Mine, a salt mine. About ten minutes later a gas explosion occurred, sending intensely hot hurricane-like winds throughout the mine. These gales blew out ventilation controls, including stoppings and doors, and upended trucks and other heavy machinery. Standing at the surface when the explosion occurred, a general mine foreman compared the explosion's sound to that of a dozen freight trains.
Twenty-two miners were underground when the explosion occurred. One group of six miners successfully dialed the surface with a make-shift telephone improvised from two damaged telephones.
Surface workers responded by clearing obstructions from a nearby shaft, and then sending down a man cage, which hoisted the miners to safety. Meanwhile, another group of seventeen miners spent about an hour inching toward a shaft through pitch-dark, intensely hot, debris-filled corridors.
Upon reaching the shaft the survivors banged on its gate, signaling their location to surface workers. Surface workers then freed the shaft's man cage, which had been lodged in the head frame by the explosion's concussive winds, and sent it down to the survivors.
By 2:45 p.m. the stranded miners were lifted to safety. Five other miners were killed in the explosion.
www.usmra.com/saxsewell/belle_isle_salt_79.htm
On June 8, 1979 in Franklin Louisiana (St. Mary Parish), 5 men were killed in the Belle Isle Salt Mine. Access to the mine is off limits now, but at the visitor center in Franklin, there is a magnificent statue dedicated to those that died in the event.
According to the United Stated Mine Rescue Association:
Shortly before 11:00 p.m. on June 8, 1979, a scheduled blast was initiated in the Belle Isle Mine, a salt mine. About ten minutes later a gas explosion occurred, sending intensely hot hurricane-like winds throughout the mine. These gales blew out ventilation controls, including stoppings and doors, and upended trucks and other heavy machinery. Standing at the surface when the explosion occurred, a general mine foreman compared the explosion's sound to that of a dozen freight trains.
Twenty-two miners were underground when the explosion occurred. One group of six miners successfully dialed the surface with a make-shift telephone improvised from two damaged telephones.
Surface workers responded by clearing obstructions from a nearby shaft, and then sending down a man cage, which hoisted the miners to safety. Meanwhile, another group of seventeen miners spent about an hour inching toward a shaft through pitch-dark, intensely hot, debris-filled corridors.
Upon reaching the shaft the survivors banged on its gate, signaling their location to surface workers. Surface workers then freed the shaft's man cage, which had been lodged in the head frame by the explosion's concussive winds, and sent it down to the survivors.
By 2:45 p.m. the stranded miners were lifted to safety. Five other miners were killed in the explosion.
www.usmra.com/saxsewell/belle_isle_salt_79.htm
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 29°31'45"N 91°23'34"W
- Atchafalaya River Delta 13 km
- Marsh Island Wildlife Refuge 46 km
- Lake Merchant 49 km
- Oil Field 53 km
- Pointe Aux Chenes Wildlife Management Area 92 km
- Oil Field 94 km
- Cut Off, Louisiana 104 km
- South Lafourche 105 km
- Galliano, Louisiana 106 km
- Little Lake 119 km