Markham Colliery at Staveley near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England suffered a massive explosion on the 10th of May, 1938 that killed 79 miners. It is believed that the explosion was caused by a runaway truck that cut an electric cable and released coal dust into the air; this combination would have been lethal.
The Markham No. 1 Colliery is situated about four miles east of Chesterfield. Mining work began at this site about 1882, but the Blackshale Seam, where the explosion was centred, was not reached until 1924 or 1925. No coal mining was taking place in this part of the mine in 1938; it is believed that the truck collided with containers full of waste material accrued during the cleaning of the gearheads and loader gates.
Lots of information about the real event on: http://www.healeyhero.co.uk/rescue/pits/markham/markham_38.htm#top
It all sounds far too neat. I suspect the miners dug through into a nest full of Ghasts and causing the explosion was the only way to stop them from escaping
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