Three people died Monday after digging coal at one of the landfill sites in Raca near Zenica, some 70 km north of Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH),local media reported on Monday.

According to initial information, they were most likely poisoned by toxic gas emitted during coal excavation and most likely it was methane, which is often a cause of accidents at coal mining.

The persons conducted unauthorized excavation of coal in the 'uncharted caves', reported Fena, the Federal New Agency.

This is not the first accident in the pits at the same site and this area is located a few kilometers from a large mining field rich in coal.

Investigation is underway by local police to determine the cause of the accident.

Source : XINHUA