An official cause of the explosion was not determined, but investigators and representatives from both the Fairmont Coal Company and the Federal Geological Survey put forth theories that an electrical spark or one of the miners' open flame lamps ignited coal dust or methane gas.

[4]: 134 The toxic fume problems were compounded by the infrastructural damage caused by the initial explosion: mines require large ventilation fans to prevent toxic gas buildup, and the explosion at Monongah had destroyed all of the ventilation equipment in No.

6 fan,[3] but the inability to clear the mine of gases further delayed and complicated rescue and recovery efforts.

[5] As a result of the explosion along with other disasters, the public began demanding additional oversight to help regulate the mines.

[6] In 2003, to commemorate the explosion, the Italian commune of San Giovanni in Fiore, from which many of the miners had emigrated, erected a memorial to those killed in the disaster.

[8] The monument was erected due to the efforts of Father Everett Francis Briggs, a local Catholic priest and historian of the Monongah disaster.

[9] In 2007, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the explosion, the Italian region of Molise presented a bell to the town of Monongah.

[11] After the disaster, the Monongah Mine Relief Committee was established in order to provide aid to those affected by the event.

The Red Cross dispatched a special representative, Margaret F. Byington, to assist with gathering information on the survivors in order to coordinate relief efforts.