Czech mine methane blast
© STRINGER/TURKEY / REUTERSThe exact cause of the blast is under investigation. File photo
Karviná, North Moravia, Aug 7 (ČTK) — Three people died and another two were injured in a methane blast in the Darkov mine in Karvina, north Moravia, last night, Marek Síbrt, spokesman for the OKD company that owns the mine, told journalists today.

The accident occurred during the drifting of a tunnel late on Thursday evening, Síbrt said.

Rock seems to have fallen out during the drifting. Due to this, the methane was released and subsequently ignited, he added.

"Undoubtedly, a seismic phenomenon occurred. Immediately after this, methane was suddenly released," Bohuslav Machek, spokesman for the National Mining Administration, said.

"As a result, the mixture of methane and air was lit up," Machek said.

The dead men were aged 32, 38 and 39.

"As far as these geomechanical signs are concerned, this is one of the most serious problem of Czech mining that really worries us in coal mining," Machek said.

Rescue service spokesman Lukáš Humpl said one of the miners had suffered severe burns on over one half of his body.

He was airlifted to the Teaching Hospital in Ostrava, north Moravia, he added.

The miners are continuing to work in the mine. Work was only limited in the place of the accident.

A commission of experts and police are investigating the causes of the blast, Síbrt said.

Rescuers from the Main Mining Rescue Station were immediately called in.

The previous accident in the OKD mines occurred last November. After a shake in the Karvina mine, three people died and nine were injured.