Rescue Effort Continues Following W. Virginia Mine Explosion
Posted April 6, 2010 7:14 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Hope of finding survivors of a coal mine explosion in West Virginia that killed 25 people is fading as rescue teams prepare Tuesday to search for four missing workers.
The blast happened Monday at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine, about 50 kilometres south of Charleston. A buildup of methane gas is believed to have caused the explosion and the company that runs the operation – Massey subsidiary Performance Coal Co. – has a history of infractions for poor ventilation practices.
In the past year Massey has been fined nearly $400,000 for repeated ventilation violations.
Monday’s explosion has been described as the worst American mining disaster in more than two decades. It happened during a shift change when there were 29 miners in the area. Seven bodies have been recovered so far.
The missing workers are believed to be dead, but rescue teams will continue efforts to find them Tuesday after bore holes were drilled to allow toxic gases underground to escape.
Some are holding out hope the workers managed to make their way to airtight chambers that contain food, water and four days worth of oxygen.
