Seven miners were confirmed dead and 19 were still unaccounted for hours after the fierce blast inside the Upper Big Branch mine
The explosion destroyed communication lines inside the huge mine. It wasn’t clear if the missing miners were able to reach specially reinforced rescue chambers that are stocked with food, water and air.
The mine, which comprises several square miles underground, has a history of releasing highly combustible methane gas, according to mine safety officials.
At least nine mine rescue teams and other emergency responders, as well as frightened families, converged on the rural mining town of
“”We’re hoping for more,”” Pellegrin said.
President
“”We are sending all of our prayers and thoughts to the brave miners and their families,”” said Sen.
“”We’re uncertain as to what happened but we are working diligently on rescue efforts,”” said
He said the 19 missing include two crews of nine workers, and a fire boss who was working alone.
Two rescue chambers are situated near the blast site and are stocked with food, water and enough air to sustain the group for four days, Stricklin said.
He said officials don’t believe there was a roof collapse, but they don’t yet know what caused the explosion.
“”It’s a very rural area,”” he said.
About seven miles from the mine, the
“”We’re prepared for them to come and we want them to come,”” he said.
In 1998, a miner was killed when a support beam failed and dropped bags of cement mix onto him, according to the federal
Another miner died there in 2001 when part of the mine’s roof collapsed, and an electrician was accidentally electrocuted while repairing a shuttle car in 2003.
The mine produced 1.2 million tons of coal in 2009, according to the
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(Drogin reported from