Phin Power to W. Virginia Coal Miners :-(

[PHAW Webmistress]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060102/ap_ ... _explosion

TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va. - A coal mine explosion that may have been sparked by lightning trapped 13 miners underground Monday, officials said.

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The mine had been idle over the holiday and the explosion occurred as the first shift of miners entered to resume production, said Lara Ramsburg, spokeswoman for Gov. Joe Manchin.

"As they were heading in, the car in the back either heard or felt some type of explosion. They headed back out. The first car never made it back out," she said.

Four co-workers attempted to reach the missing miners, but they "came to a wall" of debris, said Steve Milligan, deputy director of Upshur County's Office of Emergency Management.

Hours later, mine rescue teams had not been able to enter the mine because gasses were still venting and it was too dangerous to go in, said Sam Kitts, vice president of operations for International Coal Group Inc., which owns the mine through its recent purchase of Anker West Virginia Mining Co.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration dispatched a rescue robot to the mine, which is about 100 miles northeast of Charleston in the north-central part of the state.

The explosion knocked out the mine's communication equipment and company officials had not been able to make contact with the miners, said spokesman Greg Brunnhuber.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately known, but Ramsburg said officials believed it may have been caused by a lightning strike. A series of severe thunderstorms moved through West Virginia early Monday.

Officials originally placed the time of the explosion at 8 a.m., but Ramsburg said it happened between 6 and 6:30 a.m.

Co-workers and relatives of those trapped gathered at the Sago Baptist Church, across the road from the mining complex.

Anna Simpson said her husband, Randall, 27, was among those missing.

She said he had worked at the mine for three years "but was looking to get out. It was too dangerous."

Miners who work in the mine carry individual air purifying systems that would give them up to seven hours of clean air, said Tim McGee, who works at the mine and was among the 200 people at the church.

McGee said the miners would have been heading to a production area that is about three miles from the mine's opening. It was not immediately known how many feet underground the mine's work area was.

[phjrsaunt]

My heart goes out to them. Men being trapped in coal mines is unfortunately as ancient a ritual as loved ones waiting for the men to come home from sea. My grandfather was a coal miner in West Virginia; this is something I've all too much about in my life.

[Tiki Bar]

((((((Miners)))))))

Thoughts, prayers, and PHIN POWER to them, and to the rescuers who will attempt to get them out.

[sunseeker]

much phin sent to wv...

[SchoolGirlHeart]

many prayers and much phin power to the miners, rescuers, and their families

[MelliJellyBean]

phin power to the miners and their families.

this story hits very close to home (my dad is a miner too)

[jonesbeach10]

Long Island Phin Power headed out
~~~~~~~/)~~~~~~~~~

[sailingagain]

^^^^PHIN POWER^^^^^

[MelliJellyBean]

still keeping these miners in my thoughts. It doesn't look too good so far. but I still have hope.

[parrothead338]

Definitly lots of Northeast Phin Power being sent that way...

[ph4ever]

PacNW Phin Power to the Miners!!

[f2cdlzrd]

((((((((((Miners' family and friends.))))))))))

/)/)/)/)/)/)/)