poisoning and 11 from violence, plus carbon monoxide poisoning). The disaster, which was caused by an explosion due to firedamp, is the worst ever recorded in the North Staffordshire Coalfield. An official investigation never established what caused the ignition of flammable gases in the pit. February 8, 1923 The Dawson Stag Canon #1 Mine Explosion killed 123; many were descendants of men killed in the 1913 explosion at the same mine. As a mine car derailed, it caused sparks and ignited coal dust, causing the explosion. November 3, 1926 The Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster, near Ishpeming, Michigan, USA. A stope collapse allowed water and quicksand to fill most of the mine within 15 minutes, and 51 miners drowned. 1927–1932: Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster, near Gauley Bridge, West Virginia, United States. Over several years, 476 workers died from silicosis. July 2, 1937 The Holditch (also known as Brymbo) Colliery disaster was a coal mining accident in Chesterton, Staffordshire, England, in which 30 men died and eight were injured. It was caused due to a fire and subsequent explosions. Fatalities were exacerbated because management chose to try to save the coal seam, and risked the lives of mine workers while delaying evacuation. May 10, 1938: Explosion in Markham No. 1 Colliery near Staveley, Derbyshire, England. 79 workers died and 40 were seriously injured. July 15, 1940: Sonman Explosion near Portage, Pennsylvania. 63 workers died. April 26, 1942: Benxihu Colliery disaster in Benxi, Liaoning, China. 1,549 workers died, in the worst coal mine accident ever in the world. At the time, during World War II, this area was occupied by Japan and the mine was under control of Japanese managers. The overwhelming number of dead were Chinese forced labourers. February 20, 1946: disaster in Bergkamen, Ruhr, Germany. 405 died. 7 September 1950: Knockshinnoch Mine Disaster: Ayrshire Scotland: Liquid peat and moss flooded the mine, trapping over 100 men underground. It took days to reach the trapped men of whom 13 died. December 21, 1951: Orient 2 coal mine explosion in West Frankfort, Illinois. 119 workers died. December 10, 1954: Newton Chikli Colliery disaster, Chhindwara (M.P.), India. Flooding of the mine was caused by inrush of water from old workings of the same mine. There were 112 persons inside the mine when it was flooded. 49 persons managed to escape through the incline; the remaining 63 persons were trapped and drowned. August 8, 1956: Bois