Top Polish officials grieve for Czech mine blast victims

2018-12-21 10:18 update: 2018-12-29, 12:17
Photo: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel
Photo: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel
The Polish president, prime minister and other top officials have expressed their grief and sympathy to the families of the victims of a lethal blast at a Czech mine in which 13 miners were killed including 11 Poles.

On Thursday evening, a methane explosion took the lives of 13 miners at the mine in Karvina (Czech Republic). Mining authority representatives reported on Friday morning that among those killed were 11 Poles and two Czechs. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited the site of the mining accident on Friday morning. 

Earlier on Friday, he wrote on Twitter that he sends his deepest sympathies to all the relatives of the victims of the mining disaster in Karvina, adding that it is a huge tragedy for all Poles and Czechs. The prime minister appealed to all to "show especially strong solidarity and a sense of national community" on this difficult day.

The Polish president also reacted to the tragedy. "May God take care of the Families of the Miners, RIP," Andrzej Duda wrote on Twitter on Friday morning.

The speaker of the Sejm (lower house), Marek Kuchciński, tweeted that he shares the pain of the victims' relatives. "It is a huge tragedy," he stressed.

The speaker of the Senate, Stanisław Karczewski, also in a tweet, expressed his "deepest sympathies" for the families of the tragically killed miners. He added that unites in prayer with the grieving relatives.

Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Council of Minister's Social Committee Beata Szydło wrote on Twitter that she shares the pain of the families and relatives of Polish and Czech miners who died in the mining disaster in Karvina. "Let those who have gone to an eternal mining shaft rest in peace," she added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Science and Higher Education Minister Jarosław Gowin also expressed his condolences to the families of the miners. "On behalf of the government and all Poles, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of miners who died in the accident at the Karvina mine," he said in a TV programme on Friday morning.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Piotr Gliński also reacted to the tragedy on Twitter. "Eternal resting to the killed miners from Karvina. Words of sympathy to the families of the victims. Let's pray," he wrote. (PAP)


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