On this day in the morning of 21 February 1879, an explosion rocked the coalmine at Kaitangata, South Otago.
Debris from the explosion and the presence of fire damp an explosive mix of methane gas and oxygen thwarted initial rescue attempts. Rescue parties were unable to enter the mine until about midday.
By early evening, it was clear that 34 men had been underground and that none had survived.
The condition of their bodies showed that they had been suffocated by ‘black damp’ a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The coroner’s report identified faults in the mine’s safety practices and ventilation system.
Apparently, the explosion had been sparked when the mine manager’s brother carried a candle into a disused part of the mine that was filled with fire damp.
The accident led to the introduction of stricter controls on the mining industry – but it would not be New Zealand’s last coalmine tragedy.
Katika siku ya 21 Februari 1879 mgodi wa makaa ya mawe wa Kaitangata ulipigwa na mlipuko. Mabaki ya mlipuko huo na moto uliokuwa umewaka, pamoja na mchanganyiko wa gesi ya methane na oksijeni, ulizuia majaribio ya kwanza ya kuokoa. Vikosi vya uokoaji havikuweza kuingia kwenye mgodi huo hadi karibu saa sita mchana. Jioni mapema, ilikuwa wazi kwamba wanaume 34 walikuwa chini ya ardhi na kwamba hakuna aliyeokoka. Hali ya miili yao ilionyesha kwamba walikuwa wamezama kwa "unyevu mweusi" mchanganyiko wa nitrojeni na kaboni dioksidi. Ripoti ya mtaalamu wa maiti ilionyesha kasoro katika mazoea ya usalama wa mgodi na mfumo wa uingizaji hewa. Mlipuko huo ulisababishwa na ndugu ya meneja wa mgodi huyo aliyebeba mshumaa na kuuvusha kwenye sehemu ya mgodi iliyokuwa imejaa moto. Ajali hiyo ilisababisha kuanzishwa kwa udhibiti mkali zaidi juu ya sekta ya madini <unk> lakini haingekuwa msiba wa mwisho wa madini ya makaa ya mawe ya New Zealand.