Friday declared national day of mourning for Velenje miners

Ljubljana/Velenje, 23 January - The government has declared Friday national day of mourning for the three miners who lost their lives on Monday in a massive inrush of water and clay at the Velenje coal mine.

Velenje Book of condolence for the three miners who died on Monday in an accident at the Velenje coal mine. Photo: STA

Velenje
Book of condolence for the three miners who died on Monday in an accident at the Velenje coal mine.
Photo: STA

The decision was made in a correspondence session late on Wednesday on the proposal of Prime Minister Robert Golob. It also calls on event organisers to adapt the content to reflect the day of mourning, while flags at all state institutions will be at half-mast.

The accident happened when between 500 and 700 cubic metres of material crashed into an active shaft, burying three miners. The remains of the first were found soon after the accident on Monday, while the other two were uncovered yesterday after an extensive rescue mission.

Mining has been suspended at what is the country's only coal mine.

The municipality of Velenje has declared Friday a day of mourning, while Šoštanj, the neighbouring municipality that was home to two of the victims, declared Thursday a day of mourning.

All public events planned in Velenje on Friday and Saturday have been cancelled, while in Šoštanj all public events have been called off between Thursday and Sunday.

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