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| Situation Update No. 2 Ref.no.: AC-20100406-25593-USA
Situation Update No. 2
On 2010-04-06 at 07:59:36 [UTC]
Event: Technological Disaster
Location: USA State of West Virginia Uppper Big Branch Mine Naoma
Number of Deads: 25 person(s)
Situation: The death toll rose to 25 and four coal miners were still missing deep underground on Tuesday after an explosion killed ripped through a West Virginia mine owned by Massey Energy. The accident on Monday at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, also known as Whitesville, was one of the deadliest at a U.S. coal mine in recent years. The mine, owned by Massey's Performance Coal subsidiary, is about 30 miles (48 km) south of the state capital, Charleston. Mine officials said the death toll rose to 25 after rescuers discovered more bodies underground hours after the blast. Kevin Strickland of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said four men were still missing. "This is still a rescue operation," said Strickland, adding, however, that there was little hope the miners would be found alive. The mine has two emergency chambers stocked with food, water and enough air to survive for four days, and rescuers were still hoping the missing miners had made their way there. Strickland said rescue teams were forced to pull back from the search area because of a continuing threat of methane gas underground. The rescuers intended to drill a borehole from the surface above the mine to try to reach the missing men. Rescuers included officials from state and federal mine safety agencies and first responders from all levels of government, said Leslie Fitzwater, a spokeswoman for the West Virginia Department of Commerce. Earlier, Massey CEO Don Blankenship said the company was "taking every action possible to locate and rescue those still missing." West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin said on his website:"For those families who are still waiting for news on their missing loved ones, I want them to know that we are doing everything possible in cooperation with federal officials and the company to get our miners out as quickly and safely as possible." Massey, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia with operations in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia. |  | | | |
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