The Disaster
The disaster was caused by an ignition of firedamp approximately 10.45 am near the face of the intake airway/loader gate of 0.10 conveyor face in W District of the old coal Seam on the 28th June 1960.
Coatl dust was raised and ignited and the explosion spread almost throughout the district.
The initiallyignition of firedamp was believed to have been by an incendive spark caused by the impact of quartzitic stone falling from the roadway roof near the face of the ripping lips onto a steel canopy used to protect the roadway conveyor during blasting operations.
45 men were killed. Lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide gas were present which suggested the men lost consciousness rapidly and death occurred within minutes. Now 50 years later Six Bells has recieved an amazing memorial dedicated to those 45 men who died in the disaster
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