Fatal Mining Accidents in the U.S.

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff

The following table includes information about the most fatal mining accidents in the United States. Only accidents with ten or more fatalities are listed.

Year Day Mine Location Type Fatalities
201004/05Upper Big Branch Mine-South, Performance
Coal Company
Raleigh County, Montcoal, West Virginia Explosion of Gas
or Dust
29
200601/02Sago Mine, Anker West Virginia Mining
Company Inc.
Upshur County, Buckhannon, West Virginia Explosion12
200109/23No. 5 Mine, Jim Walter Resources, Inc.Tuscaloosa County, Brookwood, AlabamaExplosion13
198909/13William Station No. 9 Mine, Pyro Mining Co.Union Co., Wheatcroft, KentuckyExplosion10
198412/19Wilberg Mine, Emery Mining Corp.Emery Co., Orangeville, UtahFire27
198112/08No. 21 Mine, Grundy Mining Co.Marion Co., Whitwell, TennesseeExplosion13
198103/15Dutch Creek No. 1, Mid-Continent
Resources, Inc.
Pitkin Co., Redstone, ColoradoExplosion15
197603/9-11Scotia Mine, Blue Diamond Coal Co.Letcher Co., Oven Fork, KentuckyExplosion26
197012/30Nos. 15 and 16 Mines, Finley Coal Co.Leslie Co., Hyden, KentuckyExplosion38
1968 11/20 Consol No. 9 Farmington, West Virginia Explosion 78
195112/21Orient No. 2West Frankfort, IllinoisExplosion119
194703/25Centralia No. 5Centralia, IllinoisExplosion111
194003/16Willow Grove No. 10St. Clairsville, OhioExplosion72
194001/10Pond Creek No. 1Bartley, West VirginiaExplosion91
1913 10/22 Stag Canon No. 2 Dawson, New Mexico Explosion 263
190911/13Cherry MineCherry, IllinoisFire259
190712/06Monongah Nos. 6 and 8Monongah, West VirginiaExplosion362

Source: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Historical Data on Mine Disasters in the United States Web: www.msha.gov/ .

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