Wednesday morning, rescuers attempted to send a signal to any possible survivors in a coal mine in West Virginia after the explosion on Sunday that killed 25 people; a response has not been heard. Massey Energy Company manages the Upper Big Branch mine that had the explosion.
Vents in the rock are being created to release poisonous gases before searchers can resume the search for the four people who are still missing.
Govenor Joe Manchin said early Wednesday morning that the first hole was created after they plunged through almost 1,100 feet of earth and rock, and then rescuers banged on the drill pipe for 15 minutes.
"We did not get any response back," Manchin said.
Massey Energy Company runs the Upper Big Branch mine and they have been heavily criticized for safety violations that have plagued the company; Massey Energy was fined more than a million dollars over the past year for health and safety violations for dangerous conditions, while only 16% of the fines have been paid. Massey Energy has sidestepped fines by contesting the safety violations, according to the Associated Press.
The search for possible survivors was called off around 2 am on Tuesday because of the buildup of heavy gases that are coming out of the mine, making it unsafe for rescue workers. Rescuers hope to be able to get the mine ventilated by Thursday, and then four to five hours would be needed to get to the four missing people.
The highest death toll prior to this mine explosion accident was in Orangeville, Utah in 1984 when 27 people died in a fire at the Emery Mining Corp, according to the Associated Press. If the four missing miners are dead, then this is the largest mining accident in 30 years.
See the slideshow below of photos of the mining area after the explosion.
Two videos below show news coverage of the mining accident and rescue attempts.
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Source: The Associated Press
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