Episode 352: At 5:18 a.m. on May 9, 1992, in Plymouth, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, in the Westray Mine, a methane gas explosion, followed by a coal dust blast, ripped through the underground tunnels, claiming the lives of 26 miners working the night shift.

The tragedy unfolded against a backdrop of known safety violations and ignored warnings. In the aftermath, a gripping rescue attempt captivated the nation as teams of drägermen braved hazardous conditions in a desperate search for survivors. The bodies of 15 miners were recovered during the initial rescue and recovery efforts. However, the remains of 11 miners were never recovered and remain entombed deep within the mine to this day.

Despite criminal charges being filed against the mine owners and its management, no convictions were secured due to the complexity of establishing legal responsibility. More than ten years later, the federal government introduced amendments to the Criminal Code in response to this tragedy.

Sources:

Coal Mining Fatalities

The Story of Fossil Fuels, Part 1: Coal

World Coal Consumption: Past, Present, and Future

Parks Canada - Beginnings of Coal Mining National Historic Event

Coal in Canada

History of Mining | Mining Museum

Coal in Canada | Canadian Encyclopedia

1860s Accidents | Not Your Grandfathers Mining Industry, Nova Scotia, Canada

A Short History of Blame: The Doctrine of Progress

Canada's Deadliest Mining Disaster - Coal - Alberta's Energy Heritage

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Nova Scotia Archives | Mining Disasters

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The Day the Westray Mine Blew

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Nova Scotia Archives | The Westray Story | Report of the Westray Mine Public Inquiry
Justice K. Peter Richard, Commissioner

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Death by Consensus: The Westray Story

The Westray Mine Disaster and its Aftermath: The Politics of Causation

1993 CanLII 3278 (NS CA) | Nova Scotia (Commissioner of Inquiries, Westray Mine) v. Phillips | CanLII

1995 CanLII 86 (SCC) | Phillips v. Nova Scotia (Commission of Inquiry into the Westray Mine Tragedy) | CanLII

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The Road From Westray: A Predictable Path to Disaster? by Eric Tucker

The Westray Story: A Tragic Tale and the Law that Followed

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20th Anniversary of the Westray Law

Westray: 30 Years - USW Canada

Still Dying for a Living by Stephen Bittle

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