Two miners died following a methane gas leak at the Pniowek colliery in southern Poland, the mine's operator, Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa (JSW), confirmed on December 23. The accident occurred on December 22 afternoon at the Pniowek mine, located in the Silesia basin.

JSW stated that the two victims, described as "very experienced" miners, were working 830 metersunderground at the time of the incident. Eight other miners were rescued from the site.

This fatality comes just over a year after a devastating methane explosion at the same mine in April 2022, which killed 14 miners and emergency workers. According to Polish public television TVP, the current incident brings the total number of mining-related fatalities in Poland this year to 15.

Poland remains heavily reliant on coal for nearly 60% of its energy needs, and the country has experienced a number of mining accidents in recent years. As part of its effort to decarbonize, Poland has announced plans to close several coal mines in the coming decades.