When the roof of a coal mine collapsed in the Georgian town of Tkibuli in July, killing four miners and injuring six, the small town was plunged into grief. Not for the first time.
In fact, just three months previously in April in an accident at the same pit, six miners were killed and three injured.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Eight-year-old Lizi mourns at the casket of her grandfather Mikheil Gamezardashvili, a 55-year-old miner who died during an accident at the Mindeli mine.
In all, 32 miners have died in accidents at the Mindeli mine in Tkibuli, 200 km (124 miles) west of the capital Tbilisi, over the past decade and most local men acknowledge that if they could find other work they would do.
The reality is there is no other alternative.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Miners work at the Mindeli mine.
July's accident was caused by a build-up of pressure leading to an explosion.
After every serious accident, human rights activists and unions in Georgia renew their calls on authorities and private companies to improve security for miners.
After a protest in Tkibuli two years ago miners won some improvement in working conditions and a small pay rise.
But, in general, little changes, the protest mood fades and miners go back down the pit again.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Tsnobiladze rests in a changing room at the Mindel mine. "It is the spine. Without the mine, the town would not exist," he said.
A few see it as an automatic continuation of a family tradition.
"I always wanted to work at the mine ... It's a difficult job, but it's interesting because I learn something new every day," said 20-year-old David Tsnobiladze, whose father and grandfather are also miners.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Tsnobiladze after his shift at the Mindeli mine.
But he admits few of his young peers share his attitude.
"Many of them are unemployed, but still don't want to work at the mine because they're either afraid or lazy."
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
A Soviet-era apartment building.
Tkibuli is located in the lowlands of a scenic mountain gorge though the city itself is a typical Soviet-built industrial town with grey shabby houses and unsightly streets.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Girls attend a dance class.
School children can head for the local stadium or pool after school is over or join in folk dancing classes. But for teenagers or those who are older, there is a sad dearth of night clubs or internet cafes.
Mining was developed in Tkibuli in the 19th century and the town became the centre of Georgia's coal mining industry in Soviet times.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
A miner walks to enter the Mindeli mine.
Miners were an elite class of worker at the time. They had good salaries and perks and Soviet dictator Josef Stalin even spared them the draft during the war.
An infrastructure grew up around the mines.
But all that changed with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Textile workshops, a lemonade-producing factory and other small businesses were closed, leaving the mine as almost the only job option for locals now living in an independent state.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Gabunia waits in a train before entering the Mindeli mine.
"If there was a chance to find another job in this city, nobody would work at the mine," said 30-year-old Gocha Gabunia.
He was also slightly injured in one of the accidents, though he got back to work a few days after that.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Retired miner Guram Gamezardashvili, 54, who got injured in a mine, stands at a grave of his son Pavle who died in an accident at the Mindeli mine earlier this year. Guram got injured in the mine in 2010 and retired. "There isn't any other job in the town that's why we all work at the mine. We need more attention from the government, the safety rules must be tightened. The closing of the mine is not a solution, so many people will starve in that case," he said.
Story
Some think the deadly mine should be shut down.
"Agricultural farms should be built around the city. That would be an alternative to the mine," said 16-year-old Luka Bakradze.
Writing by Margarita Antidze
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Slideshow
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
A woman holds a baby on a street.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
A car is parked on a street.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
A Soviet-era apartment building.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Theatre staff prepare for a movie screening.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Miners work at the Mindeli mine.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Miners change after work in a changing room at the Mindeli mine.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
A miner carries a gas detector at the Mindeli mine.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
A train carries miners into the Mindeli mine.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Miners wait in a train before entering the Mindeli mine.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Retired miner Guram Gamezardashvili, 54, attends a funeral of his cousin Mikheil Gamezardashvili, a 55-year-old miner who died in an accident at the Mindeli mine.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
People mourn during a funeral of miners who died in an accident at the Mindeli mine.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Men drink wine in memory of miners who died in accidents at the Mindeli mine.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
Men play backgammon on a street.
. Tkibuli, GEORGIA. Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili
A woman uses ATM at the entrance of the Mindeli mine.
