6 miners are dead – 21 are missing after an explosion at a West Virginia coal mine today.
The AP reported:
Six miners were killed and at least 21 unaccounted for Monday in an explosion at an underground coal mine, the state mining director said.
Ron Wooten said the blast was reported around 3 p.m. at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine in Raleigh County, about 30 miles south of Charleston. The company did not provide details on the extent of the damage. A Boone County ambulance dispatcher also said he has the same number of fatalities and missing miners.
The mine is operated by Massey subsidiary Performance Coal Co.
Mine emergency crews from the State Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training were headed to the scene, but agency spokeswoman Jama Jarrett had no more details.
At least three fatalities have happened at the mine in the past dozen years.
Please keep the families of these miners in your thoughts and prayers.
UPDATE: 7 dead and 19 are missing.