Protection Island mining disaster
Mining disaster near Nanaimo, British Columbia
Date | September 10, 1918 (1918-09-10) |
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Location | Protection Island near Nanaimo British Columbia, Canada |
Type | Mining accident |
Cause | Hoising cable break, transport cab fall |
Deaths | 16 |
The Protection Island mining disaster killed 16 miners and occurred on Protection Island near Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. The disaster occurred at 7:10 a.m.[1] on September 10, 1918 (1918-09-10) when the hoisting cable frayed on the cab that was lowering miners into the mine. Six other cabs of 16 miners each had preceded the cab which fell 300 feet (~100 m) into the mine. The bodies of the miners were mangled to the point where personal effects were used to identify the victims.[2][3] It was later determined that salt water in the air had caused corrosion of the cable leading to the accident.[1]
See also
- 1887 Nanaimo mine explosion
- List of coal mines and landmarks in the Nanaimo area
References