West Virginia Coal Mine Disaster

Please remember everyone involved in this tragity. We are hoping for a miracle !!!

What happened, Keith?

All the coal miners and their families are in my prayers.

Monday afternoon about 3:30 there was an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raligh county here in West Virginia. 25 miners were killed, 2 are in the hospital and 4 are missing. There are safety chambers in the mine and searchers are hoping that the missing ones have made it to some of these safety chambers. There they would find oxygen, food and water that would last them for several days. On Thursday morning rescuers made it in part way but had to be pulled out because the explosive gases levels were to high. It is now Friday morning and we are hearing they are back in the mine again. 22 of the dead are still in the mine. Families are not sure who is dead and who is missing. Its just an awful situation for the families.

Its now about 6:45 am Friday morning. The news just had an update. The rescuers made it to the first chamber and found no one there. At that point they also encountered smoke which means there is a fire someplace in the mine. So now they pulled the rescue teams back out and are pumping nitrogen gas into the mine. This will lower the oxygen levels in the mine which should stop the fire from burning. They are drilling a hole down from the top of the mountain to the area where the last chamber is. When they break thru they are going to drop a camera down to see if they can see if the chamber has been deployed meaning someone is inside. The rescuers have to go in the mine from 8000 feet to 5 miles . I guess it was a massive explosion. The reports say the rails that the man trips ride on were curled up like pretzels. Such a bad situation.

Aw, I am so sorry to hear that, Keith. It is the saddest thing when a person gets killed working his butt off for his family. One of my closest friends has worked as a miner for many years and I know how close these men get due to the kind of work they do, they have to rely on each other to a great extent. They are as close as real family, I can only imagine how the survivors must feel.... I will for sure pray for these people. Thank you for explaining what happened. In Holland we don't get to hear about all things that happen worldwide.

Thanks for your thought and prayers.

Yes, miners are a close knit family. In this disaster, one family lost 3 members. The dads shift just ended and his son and 2 of his nephews shift just started when the explosion happened. They all died. The dad was on the news and said the last thing his son said as he walked away to go to work was, Time to go dance with the devil, a coal miners saying since they go into the depths of the earth.

My prayers are with the families and friends of the miners. Miners have my admiration for being able to go that far into the earth to work.

I bet he never anticipated to have a meeting with God, instead of the devil..eh?

The last mine closed in 1974 in our country, the only mines we have left are salt mines and we opened up just one due to the long and bitter winter, because we were out of salt completely.

Sad news this morning. The last 4 miners were found dead. A heartbreaking time for the families and rescuers.

May they rest in peace, Keith :/

I hope one day all workers in this world will have maximum safety at their work place and those places that are too hazardous will be shut down.

My prayers are with the ones left behind.

I'll pray for the families and the men....