GLOBAL CLIMATE DEBATE

Fatal Blast in W.Va. Coal Mine

Massey Energy officials have confirmed that 25 people are dead following an explosion at a coal mine with a history of safety problems -- the deadliest U.S. mine disaster since 1984.

Massey says two miners who were rescued following the blast are being treated at hospitals. At least four others remain missing, more than 1,000 feet underground. A rescue effort has been suspended because of a buildup of methane gas and risk of another explosion at Massey's Upper Big Branch mine, about 30 miles south of Charleston.

Federal mine safety officials say rescue teams reached one of two airtight chambers where miners would have access to food, water and oxygen, but it was empty. High gas levels prevented them from reaching the second. Officials say the chambers have enough provisions to sustain the miners for four days.

"It does not appear that any of the individuals made it to a rescue chamber," said Kevin Stricklin, an administrator for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. "The situation is dire."

Rescuers are now drilling a shaft to vent the methane, but will be unable to resume thier search for the miners until the air is safe -- a process that could take until 6 p.m. Tuesday.

"It's going to be a long day and we're not going to have a lot of information until we can get the first hole through," said Gov. Joe Manchin.

State mining director Ron Wooten said though the situation does not seem promising, rescuers will keep working.

The accident is the deadliest in the United States since 1984, when 27 were killed in a fire at Emery Mining Corp.'s mine in Orangeville, Utah.

Stricklin said the blast happened about 3 p.m. Monday while a crew was leaving on a vehicle that takes miners in and out of the mine's long shaft. A crew that went back to investigate, found nine workers -- seven of them dead. Others were hurt or missing about a mile and a half inside the mine.

Stricklin says 11 bodies have been recovered and identified so far, but the other 14 have not. Names weren't released publicly, but Manchin said three of the dead are members of the same family.

The National Mining association issued a statement offering prayers for the dead and mising miners and thier families. The NMA says it is proud of the recent saftey record in U.S. mines, but efforts to improve it must continue.

"U.S. mining has made tremendous strides in ensuring the safety of all those who work in America’s mines. That work has culminated in record safety performance in 2008 and 2009. Today’s events are a tragic reminder of the work that remains to be done to achieve our goal of zero accidents in the nation’s mines," said NMA President and CEO Hal Quinn.

Massey Energy has been fined more than $382,000 in the past year for repeated serious violations involving its ventilation plan and equipment at Upper Big Branch, which is run by subsidiary Performance Coal Co. The violations also cover failing to follow the plan, allowing combustible coal dust to pile up, and having improper firefighting equipment.

MSHA records show that since March 1, the mine has been issued more than 50 safety citations, including several for problems similar to those cited earlier. Fines for those violations have not been assessed. 

The mine has had three other fatalities in the last 12 years.