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The Oranovo coal mine is located 2 km away from the town of Simitli in southwestern Bulgaria. Photo by BGNES
The concessionaire of the Oranovo coal mine in southwestern Bulgaria, where two miners died after a collapse promised BGN 50 000 to their families.
Speaking for the Bulgarian National Radio Friday, Krasimir Mihaylov, reminded that the miners also have insurance policies.
Mihaylov was interrogated in the 2nd Police Precinct in the city of Blagoevgrad where he turned himself in hours after the Prosecutor's Office issued a search warrant for him.
He said that in the last 8 years he suffered losses in the amount of BGN 5 M and was ready to give the mine as a gift to Economy and Energy Minister, Dragomir Stoynev, who blamed "wild capitalism" for the tragedy.
The concessionaire appeared in the police precinct with a lawyer and bodyguard.
The collapse in the coal mine happened around 9:30 am Tuesday.
Mihaylov explained his absence with not wanting to go to the mine over fears it will be interpreted as black PR.
Two miners, Asen Stoynev, 41, and Hristo Mladenov, 45, died in the collapse.
Rescue teams are still searching for Ivan Lazarov, 35, and Nikolay Mihaylov, 42, who are trapped 450 meters below the surface underneath an avalanche of mud, rocks and water.
The Oranovo mine is located near the town of Simitli. This is the fourth major accident there in the past eight years. Union leaders said the reason for the collapse was poor safety standards.
Miners and their families are keeping silent about the work conditions, which many see as fear of losing their jobs.
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