UPDATE - Three miners injured in Monday morning’s Bielszowice mine accident have been transported to regional hospitals, the remaining two miners trapped in major earth tremors 100 metres below ground have yet to be evacuated.

“Their state at the current moment is not life-threatening,” stated Zbigniew Madej, spokesperson for the Ruda Slask Coal Company, located in southern Poland, adding that doctors are working hard to assure the health of the miners.

The earth tremor was felt at 08.13 CET, Monday morning.

Two miners have already been transported to St. Barbara’s hospital in Sosnowiec and a third to a hospital in Katowice-Ochojec.  The remaining two miners – still trapped under ground – are expected to be evacuated as quickly as possible.

Madej added that three doctors were treating the miners – who sustained broken arms and legs – already underground and ambulances were waiting above ground. Additionally, psychologists and therapists are aiding the families of the miners to cope with the situation.

The miners were trapped 1,000 metres underground doing conservation work when a strong earth tremor struck, trapping them.

The Bielszowice accident follows two weeks after a methane blast killed twenty miners in the Wujek-Slask mine, located in the same region. (mmj/mg) 

updated 12.30