Five killed and four injured in a coal mine explosion in northern Spain.

On Monday, March 31, a coal mining accident occurred in the autonomous community of Asturias in northern Spain, resulting in the deaths of 5 miners and injuries to 4 others, with 3 of them in critical condition. The cause of the accident is currently under further investigation.

According to media reports, around 9:30 am local time on Monday, an explosion occurred at the Cerredo mine in the town of Degana in the Asturias region, leading to the deaths of 5 individuals and injuries to 4 others. The mine is located approximately 450 kilometers northwest of the capital, Madrid.

Upon receiving the alarm call, local emergency rescue departments dispatched firefighters, police, and mining rescue personnel to the scene for rescue operations. Three severely injured individuals have been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, with 2 individuals suffering from burns and 1 individual sustaining head injuries.

Local government officials have stated that the five deceased individuals were all residents of the province of León in northwestern Spain, aged between 32 and 54 years old. Initially, there were reports of two missing individuals, but they were found earlier in the afternoon.

Quoting a spokesperson for the Asturias region, local media reported that the workers had entered the mine for mining operations with proper permits.

The cause of the explosion has not been confirmed yet, but local media speculates that a machine at the mine malfunctioned during operation, triggering the explosion. The exact cause is still under investigation.

The regional leader of Asturias, Adrian Barbon, announced a two-day mourning period in the area to honor the five deceased miners. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims through social media on the same day and wished the injured individuals a speedy recovery.

Asturias is known for its dense forests and mountainous terrain, with mining being a major industry in the region for several centuries. The town of Mieres in the region experienced a mining disaster in 1995, resulting in the deaths of 14 people.