A coal mine collapse in North Korea’s North Hamgyong province on Sept. 12 seriously injured one worker. The accident highlights how production pressure is outpacing safety measures as winter approaches.
A source in North Hamgyong province told Daily NK recently that the accident occurred at a mine run by a machinery factory. Timber supports holding up an inclined shaft gave way as workers were heading in for their shift. An inclined shaft is a sloping tunnel that leads from the surface to the underground coal face.
“Three workers on their way in were buried under the dirt,” the source said. “One of them was taken to a hospital with serious injuries to his lower back and legs.”
Workers reportedly walk down the shaft for 40 minutes to an hour to reach the underground work area. “Many of the supports are weak, so nobody knows when the ceiling will come down,” the source said. “Just going to and from the work site is extremely dangerous in itself.”
Coal mine collapse highlights worker safety gaps as winter nears
The factory, which produces machinery for coal mines, operates the mine to secure its own coal supply. The factory mainly uses the coal for heating and cooking at its sanatorium and workers’ dormitories. A factory sanatorium is a company-run rest and recuperation facility for employees.
The mine normally runs on day shifts, but night work is added when the factory party committee pushes for more coal. Workers then reportedly work night shifts lasting two to three days at a time. Factory party committees are local branches of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) that oversee management and production drives. According to the source, these demands grow louder ahead of winter, when the factory must stockpile coal for its facilities.
Even so, the mine shows little sign of replacing old timber supports or reinforcing risky sections of the shaft. With the mine even responsible for procuring its own work tools, safety inevitably falls down the list of priorities.
“Higher-ups keep pressing us to dig more coal before winter,” the source said. “But they show no interest in replacing or reinforcing the old supports. Workers have to carry out their production tasks while worrying that the shaft could collapse at any time.”
Work at the mine has temporarily stopped since the accident. The source expects the factory to follow a familiar pattern this time. “Because they are desperate to meet coal quotas, they often fix only the spot that collapsed and put people back to digging instead of dealing with every dangerous section,” he said.
“With work continuing into the night, workers pile up fatigue and struggle to spot dangers in time,” he added. “The mine is so outdated that an accident would not be surprising at any time.” The source said concern over further accidents is also growing.
Reporting from inside North Korea
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September 22, 2026 at 07:52PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)