Italian coal miners barricaded in mine, armed with explosives

About 100 coal miners are barricaded inside an underground mine in Sardinia, Italy, and have armed themselves with explosives to prevent the mine’s closure.

The miners seized around 350 kilos of blasting equipment and barricaded themselves in the Carbosulcis mine last night.

One miner told Reuters the group was prepared to stay there until they hear a response from the government that secures the future of the mine.

The miners have called on the Italian government to diversify the operation into a joint coal mining and carbon capture operation.

This is not the first time European coal miners have barricaded themselves inside their mine.

In June several striking Spanish coal miners refused to leave their underground mine in protest at the government’s decision to slash mining subsidies. They spent about a month underground.

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