Six killed in explosion at US coal mine
April 6th, 2010 - 6:57 am ICT by IANSWashington, April 6 (IANS) An explosion at a coal mine in the US state of West Virginia killed six miners Monday.
Ron Wooten, director of West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training, told media that six miners were dead and 21 were missing following an explosion at Upper Big Branch mine in Raleigh County, an underground mine operated by Massey Energy subsidiary Performance Coal, Xinhua reported.
The mine is located bout 50 km south of Charleston, capital of West Virginia.
Wooten said the explosion occurred at about 3 p.m. Monday. Massey Energy didn’t immediately provide further details with regard to the casualties, extent of damage or if there were people trapped inside, saying those numbers are “uncertain” at the time.
Local TV WCHS said dozens of miners are believed to be trapped underground. Emergency crews from Massey Energy, the State and federal agencies are responding to the incident.
Massey Energy, the fourth largest coal producer in the US according to revenue, operates 35 underground and 12 surface mines in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia, according to the company website.
- Seven killed in explosion at US coal mine (Lead) - Apr 06, 2010
- Six dead, 21 missing after coal mine explosion in West Virginia - TV - Apr 06, 2010
- 12 killed in US coalmine blast (Second Lead) - Apr 06, 2010
- Seven dead, 19 missing after coal mine explosion in West Virginia - Apr 06, 2010
- 25 killed in US mine explosion - Apr 06, 2010
- Mine Explosion In West Virginia Kills Seven, 19 Missing - Apr 06, 2010
- Twenty-five dead, 4 missing after coal mine explosion in West Virginia - Apr 06, 2010
- Kentucky Governor addresses West Virginia mine tragedy - Apr 06, 2010
- Efforts to recover miners from W. Va. mine concluded - Apr 13, 2010
- Massey Energy Company CEO Declares Compensation For The Dead Miners' Families - Apr 27, 2010
- Six killed in China mine blast - Feb 15, 2012
- West Virginian Mine Owner Guarantees Benefits To The Kith And Kin Of The Victims Of The Detonation - Apr 27, 2010
- Massey Energy says to conduct extensive reviews of the Upper Big Branch accident - Apr 10, 2010
- Six dead in central China coal mine gas leak - Nov 16, 2011
- Obama expresses condolences on W. Va. mine accident - Apr 10, 2010
Tags: capital of west virginia, casualties, coal mine, coal producer, dozens, emergency crews, energy subsidiary, explosion, health safety, local tv, massey energy, miners, raleigh county, state of west virginia, surface mines, virginia kentucky, wchs, west virginia office, wooten, xinhua