December 6 , 1907 -- Worst coal mine disaster in U.S. history : 38 miners killed in explosion . March 25 , 1947 -- 5 miners killed in explosion at the Centralia No . 111 mine in Centralia , Illinois . December 30 , 1970 -- 38 miners killed in explosions at mines in Hyden , Kentucky . March 25 , 1947 -- Five miners killed in explosion at the Sago Mine in Harlan County , Kentucky .
December 6 , 1907 -- Worst coal mine disaster in U.S. history : 362 miners killed in explosion . March 25 , 1947 -- 111 miners killed in explosion at the Centralia No . 5 mine in Centralia , Illinois . December 30 , 1970 -- 38 miners killed in explosions at mines in Hyden , Kentucky . May 20 , 2006 -- Five miners killed in explosion at Darby Mine No . 1 in Harlan County , Kentucky .