25 dead in West Virginia mining explosion

• Chesapeake

  

  2 injured and 4 still missing.
  
  It was first reported Monday around 4:30 pm as a collapse.
  
  It was later confirmed there was an explosion.
  
  The mine is located about 30 miles south of Charleston.
  
  CNN reported that this is the worst mining disaster in the United States since 1984.
  
  http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/06/west.virginia.mine.explosion/index.html?hpt=T1
• sonofsam

  

  Not again... West Virginia is getting a bad rap for mining accidents.
• pepperpot

  Prayers to all involved from Columbiana County....
• brutus161

  

  My wife's best friend has a brother, uncle, and cousin still unaccounted for. They have not told her they are dead, so we are praying they are three of the four that are still
  missing.
• pepperpot

  ^^^^ prayers that they will be found alive. Keep us updated.........
• baseballstud24

  On CNN, they are reporting that 7 have been pulled from the mine. Out of those 7, three were from the same family...an uncle and two nephews...Hopefully these aren't the people your wife knows brutus.
  
  http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/06/west.virginia.mine.explosion/index.html?hpt=T1
• SnotBubbles

  baseballstud24 wrote: On CNN, they are reporting that 7 have been pulled from the mine. Out of those 7, three were from the same family...an uncle and two nephews...Hopefully these aren't the people your wife knows brutus.
  
  http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/06/west.virginia.mine.explosion/index.html?hpt=T1

  I hope it's just coincidence, but odds are that's who Brutus is talking about.
  
  Mining is a career I'm glad I never pursued. The risks far outweigh the rewards. My thoughts are with the families.
• j_crazy

  

  brutus161 wrote: My wife's best friend has a brother, uncle, and cousin still unaccounted for. They have not told her they are dead, so we are praying they are three of the four that are still
  missing.

  i just read on my AP Iphone app that 3 of those confirmed dead are from the same family, names withheld until families are notified.
• darbypitcher22

  

  that really sucks
• zambrown

  

  What a tragedy for the families and the community. Prayers certainly go out.
• Little Danny

  

  I have miners in my family as well (although none involved in this tragedy). My thoughts and prayers are with the surviving families.
• RedRider1

  

  When an entire industry has it's own safety compliance department (MSHA), you know it's got some tough working conditions.
  
  Sad though...mines are the identity of these towns....affects everyone.
• brutus161

  

  Just found out about an hour ago that all three of them were killed.
  
  The coal company is going to have ot pay big. The reports are that the explosion is due to poor ventilation. The company had been cited 11 times over the past year, and as recently as last Tuesday.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  brutus161 wrote: Just found out about an hour ago that all three of them were killed.
  
  The coal company is going to have ot pay big. The reports are that the explosion is due to poor ventilation. The company had been cited 11 times over the past year, and as recently as last Tuesday.

  Please know we will keep their families and yours in our thoughts and prayers.
• CenterBHSFan

  

  The area I live in, you probably couldn't find one family that doesn't have a miner in it.
  
  Prayers to all those miners and their families.
  
  Was that a Malley(sp) mine?
• hilliardfan

  It was a Massey mine.
• zambrown

  

  I'm so sorry, Brutus. What a terrible thing - especially if it was due to negligence or improper maintenance.
• GoChiefs

  

  brutus161 wrote: Just found out about an hour ago that all three of them were killed.
  
  The coal company is going to have ot pay big. The reports are that the explosion is due to poor ventilation. The company had been cited 11 times over the past year, and as recently as last Tuesday.

  Thoughts to your family Brutus! Such a tragedy. Sad thing is...multiple citations is pretty normal for these mining companies. And it takes a tragedy like this before anything happens. Take for example the Sago Mine disaster..it took those 12-14 deaths (don't remember exactly) for the MSHA to make changes for something that should have been done a long time ago.
• BigAppleBuckeye

  

  brutus161 wrote: Just found out about an hour ago that all three of them were killed.
  
  The coal company is going to have ot pay big. The reports are that the explosion is due to poor ventilation. The company had been cited 11 times over the past year, and as recently as last Tuesday.

  That is horrible news Brutus, my sincere condolences. What a tragedy.
• OUgrad

  1

  brutus161 wrote: Just found out about an hour ago that all three of them were killed.
  
  The coal company is going to have ot pay big. The reports are that the explosion is due to poor ventilation. The company had been cited 11 times over the past year, and as recently as last Tuesday.

  So sorry brutus! My bil works in a WV mine and I worry constantly about him for this very thing. These mine workers are brave beyond words, taking their lives in their hands every day just to make a decent living. My heart truly aches for you and my prayers certainly are with you, your family and the rest of the families who lost a loved one in such a tragedy!
• gerb131

  

  Just reading about this and that is a damn shame. I feel for those people. They are just doing their jobs and living thru the heritage. I couldn't do it but I support the people that do. Good luck WVA!
• Jughead

  

  I believe that the owner/operator/whatever else you can call him of the mine has 25+ counts of murder headed his way. If I was a member of one of the families involved, I'd go for nothing less. He has yet to talk to the families of those involved, which is beyond sickening.
  
  Hearing about all the violations that have occurred at this specific mine over just the past 5 years, it should have been shut down long before something like this happened. I know coal mining is key source of income in WV, but is it really worth so many lives?
  
  Once again, prayers to all the families involved.
• Chesapeake

  

  GoChiefs wrote: Take for example the Sago Mine disaster..it took those 12-14 deaths (don't remember exactly) for the MSHA to make changes for something that should have been done a long time ago.

  At Sago there were 13 in the mine when the explosion happened.
  
  They found one miner after almost 2 days that was alive then at the 2 day mark they claimed that they found 12 alive which relieved their families only to be told an hour later that they found 12 but they were all dead.
  
  The only surviving miner recovered well.
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sago_Mine_disaster
• End of Line

  

  Prayers to the miners families.