Marie mine disaster
 Illustration of recovery efforts | |
| Date | 31 May 1892 |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Deaths | 319 |
The Marie mine disaster (31 May 1892) was a fire in the Marie ore mine in Příbram, present-day Czech Republic, which killed 319 miners.[1] It is considered the worst mining disaster in Czech history and one of the deadliest in the world.[2]
Event
The fire started in the Marie mine on 31 May 1892 at approximately 1pm, and subsequently spread toxic fumes to the neighboring Anna, Prokop, Vojtěch and Franz Josef I mines. Some miners died immediately, while others had time to write letters to their families. Rescue work largely concluded around 7pm.[1][2] By the afternoon of 1 June, some miners were still underground and alive; most could not be saved but at least one miner was rescued on that day.[3] Overall, 319 miners died and 516 survived, with most victims dying of smoke inhalation.[2]
Cause
The fire was likely caused when miner Emanuel Kříž decided to change the wick in his lamp, but mistakenly dropped the remnants of it which sank into a cellar beneath him. After checking with three other miners for fifteen minutes and observing no fire, they left for the surface.[2] The first signs of fire were observed two hours later.[4] However, at Kříž's trial, experts from the Mining Academy argued the cause could not be definitively concluded.[2]
Aftermath
As a result of the tragedy, 285 women were widowed and 919 children were orphaned.[4]
Kříž and the three miners with him were jailed for terms of months to three years, though Kříž was released early after receiving a pardon from the Emperor.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Holakovský, Milan (5 June 2022). "Sto třicet let od tragédie: Požár v dole Marie nepřežilo přes tři sta lidí". Příbramský deník (in Czech). Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Novák, Jan A. (11 March 2025). "Příbram 1892: Největší důlní neštěstí v Evropě se nikdy nepodařilo vysvětlit". Reflex.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Příčinou největší české důlní katastrofy byla neopatrnost, zemřelo 319 horníků". Příbram.cz (in Czech). 30 May 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Požár v Březových Horách – neopatrnost tehdy zavinila smrt 319 horníků". Česká televize (in Czech). 31 May 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2026.