Nanaimo mine disaster

Nanaimo

Location in British Columbia

The Nanaimo mine disaster on May 3, 1887 in Nanaimo , British Columbia , Canada killed 150 miners and was the largest human-made explosion in Canada until the Halifax explosion in 1917 . Only seven miners survived the disaster; the mine burned for 24 hours.

The detonation started deep underground in coal mine number 1 after explosives were improperly stored. While many miners died instantly, others were initially trapped in the explosion. These men wrote farewell letters in the dust on their shovels.

Earlier documents put the death toll at 148, it is now assumed to have died, including 53 Chinese workers. The Chinese workers were listed in the Minister of Mines' Government Investigation and Annual Report as "Chinese men, names unknown" followed by a personnel number. Until 1897, deaths of Chinese workers had not been reported in British Columbia. Some reports say 48 or 53 miners had the last name Mah - records of this may have been destroyed when Nanaimo's Chinatown burned down in 1969. A memorial on Milton Street lists the names of the white miners, but only the personnel numbers of the Chinese miners.

After the explosion, many white residents of Nanaimo accused the Chinese workers of being responsible for the disaster, citing the workers unable to read the signs and instructions. However, most miners - regardless of their origin - were illiterate . Racism was widespread in British Columbia and Chinese workers were paid far less than whites.

Operated by the Vancouver Coal Company, the number 1 mine opened in 1884 at the foot of Milton Street in Nanaimo. Its shafts and tunnels extended under the harbor to Protection Island , Newcastle Island and the Nanaimo River . After the explosion, the mine reopened and produced 18 million tons of coal before closing forever in 1938.