1947 Centralia mine disaster
| Date | March 25, 1947 |
|---|---|
| Location | Centralia No. 5 coal mine, Washington County section of Wamac, Illinois |
| Casualties | |
| 111 killed | |
| 31 survivors | |
On March 25, 1947, the Centralia No. 5 coal mine exploded near the town of Centralia, Illinois, killing 111 people. The Mine Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor reported the explosion was caused when an underburdened shot or blown-out shot ignited coal dust. The US Department of Labor lists the disaster as the second worst US mining disaster since 1940 with a total of 111 men dead.