Mining Disasters

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff

Table of contents

The following table includes information about the most fatal mining accidents in the United States. Only accidents with ten or more fatalities are listed.

Year	Day	Mine	Location	Type	Fatalities
2010	04/05	Upper Big Branch Mine-South, Performance Coal Company	Raleigh County, Montcoal, West Virginia	Explosion of Gas or Dust	29
2006	01/02	Sago Mine, Anker West Virginia Mining Company Inc.	Upshur County, Buckhannon, West Virginia	Explosion	12
2001	09/23	No. 5 Mine, Jim Walter Resources, Inc.	Tuscaloosa County, Brookwood, Alabama	Explosion	13
1989	09/13	William Station No. 9 Mine, Pyro Mining Co.	Union Co., Wheatcroft, Kentucky	Explosion	10
1984	12/19	Wilberg Mine, Emery Mining Corp.	Emery Co., Orangeville, Utah	Fire	27
1981	12/08	No. 21 Mine, Grundy Mining Co.	Marion Co., Whitwell, Tennessee	Explosion	13
1981	03/15	Dutch Creek No. 1, Mid-Continent Resources, Inc.	Pitkin Co., Redstone, Colorado	Explosion	15
1976	03/9-11	Scotia Mine, Blue Diamond Coal Co.	Letcher Co., Oven Fork, Kentucky	Explosion	26
1970	12/30	Nos. 15 and 16 Mines, Finley Coal Co.	Leslie Co., Hyden, Kentucky	Explosion	38
1968	11/20	Consol No. 9	Farmington, West Virginia	Explosion	78
1951	12/21	Orient No. 2	West Frankfort, Illinois	Explosion	119
1947	03/25	Centralia No. 5	Centralia, Illinois	Explosion	111
1940	03/16	Willow Grove No. 10	St. Clairsville, Ohio	Explosion	72
1940	01/10	Pond Creek No. 1	Bartley, West Virginia	Explosion	91
1913	10/22	Stag Canon No. 2	Dawson, New Mexico	Explosion	263
1909	11/13	Cherry Mine	Cherry, Illinois	Fire	259
1907	12/06	Monongah Nos. 6 and 8	Monongah, West Virginia	Explosion	362