Century-old fires on Indian coalfields put workers’ lives at risk


Dhanbad (India) (AFP) – Raging non-stop for a century, underground fires pose a serious threat to those working on coalfields in the Indian state of Dhanbad. The fires, which scientists believe started in a 1916 mining accident, cause sinkholes which swallow people and homes. Coal pickers say that hundreds have died over the years, but for many whose livelihoods depend on the in-demand fuel, leaving the danger behind is not an option.

©AFP

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