Blast at coal mine traps 13 miners underground

TALLMANSVILLE – Rescuers methodically made their way toward the spot where 13 coal miners were believed to be trapped below ground yesterday morning as other crews drilled a hole to try to listen for signs of life.

A coal mine explosion that may have been sparked by lightning trapped the miners 80 metres below the surface of the Sago Mine on Monday. Four co-workers tried to reach them immediately after the explosion but stopped because of contaminated air.The blast knocked out the mine’s communication equipment, preventing authorities from contacting the miners.Several hundred family members and friends waited for word on the miners, including Daniel Merideth, the son-in-law of trapped miner Alby Martin Bennett, who had planned to retire this year.Gene Kitts, a senior vice president for mine owner International Coal Group Inc., said during an early morning press briefing Tuesday that there had been no communication with the miners.Officials planned to send a robot underground, equipped with a camera and sensors to measure atmospheric conditions.”We will be able to establish video of that area, we can establish what the mine conditions are, so we think that this will be quite an advantage to this rescue process,” Kitts said.Teams initially had planned to begin drilling Monday night, but had to do some grading work in the spot determined to be the best location.There were approximately 90 rescuers on site, he said, operating in rotating teams of six to eight.The teams were preparing to withdraw just before the drilling was about to penetrate the mine.The rescue teams entered the mine more than 11 hours after the blast.They were kept out of the mine for most of the day because of dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide – a byproduct of combustion.The rescuers hoped the trapped miners were able to find a pocket of clean air where they could barricade themselves to wait for help.The miners carry individual air purifying systems that would give them up to seven hours of clean air, said Tim McGee, who works at the mine.They do not carry oxygen tanks, he said.Kitts said the miners each had between 3 and 30 years experience and are trained to try to tap on roots, waterlines, anything possible, to alert rescuers of their location.Coal mine explosions are typically caused by buildups of naturally occurring methane gas, and the danger increases in the winter months, when the barometric pressure can release the odorless, colorless and highly flammable gas.Manchin spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said the blast may have been sparked by lightning from severe thunderstorms.But Roger Nicholson, ICG’s general counsel, said that it was not clear what caused the blast and that there was no indication it was methane-related.Federal inspectors cited the mine for 46 alleged violations of federal mine health and safety rules during an 11-week review that ended December 22, according to records.The more serious alleged violations, resulting in proposed penalties of at least $250 each, involved steps for safeguarding against roof falls, and the mine’s plan to control methane and breathable dust.The mine received 208 citations from MSHA during 2005, up from 68 citations in 2004.The state Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training issued 144 notices of violation against the mine in 2005, up from 74 the year before.-Nampa-APFour co-workers tried to reach them immediately after the explosion but stopped because of contaminated air.The blast knocked out the mine’s communication equipment, preventing authorities from contacting the miners.Several hundred family members and friends waited for word on the miners, including Daniel Merideth, the son-in-law of trapped miner Alby Martin Bennett, who had planned to retire this year.Gene Kitts, a senior vice president for mine owner International Coal Group Inc., said during an early morning press briefing Tuesday that there had been no communication with the miners.Officials planned to send a robot underground, equipped with a camera and sensors to measure atmospheric conditions.”We will be able to establish video of that area, we can establish what the mine conditions are, so we think that this will be quite an advantage to this rescue process,” Kitts said.Teams initially had planned to begin drilling Monday night, but had to do some grading work in the spot determined to be the best location.There were approximately 90 rescuers on site, he said, operating in rotating teams of six to eight.The teams were preparing to withdraw just before the drilling was about to penetrate the mine.The rescue teams entered the mine more than 11 hours after the blast.They were kept out of the mine for most of the day because of dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide – a byproduct of combustion.The rescuers hoped the trapped miners were able to find a pocket of clean air where they could barricade themselves to wait for help.The miners carry individual air purifying systems that would give them up to seven hours of clean air, said Tim McGee, who works at the mine.They do not carry oxygen tanks, he said.Kitts said the miners each had between 3 and 30 years experience and are trained to try to tap on roots, waterlines, anything possible, to alert rescuers of their location.Coal mine explosions are typically caused by buildups of naturally occurring methane gas, and the danger increases in the winter months, when the barometric pressure can release the odorless, colorless and highly flammable gas.Manchin spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said the blast may have been sparked by lightning from severe thunderstorms.But Roger Nicholson, ICG’s general counsel, said that it was not clear what caused the blast and that there was no indication it was methane-related.Federal inspectors cited the mine for 46 alleged violations of federal mine health and safety rules during an 11-week review that ended December 22, according to records.The more serious alleged violations, resulting in proposed penalties of at least $250 each, involved steps for safeguarding against roof falls, and the mine’s plan to control methane and breathable dust.The mine received 208 citations from MSHA during 2005, up from 68 citations in 2004.The state Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training issued 144 notices of violation against the mine in 2005, up from 74 the year before.-Nampa-AP