West Virginia coal mine explosion kills 25
Twenty-five miners are now recognized to have died and four are missing in an accident at a West Virginia coal mine.
The worst mine disaster in the US since 1984 was triggered by an underground explosion at Upper Big Branch, about 30 miles (50km) south of Charleston.
It happened at about 1500 (1900 GMT) in a chamber 330m (1,000ft) below ground, mine owner Massey Energy Organization said.
The rescue operation has been suspended because rising methane gas levels have heightened the risk of another blast.
The operation will resume as soon as conditions enable, Massey Energy stated.
There are plans to drill boreholes from the surface to monitor gas levels and make an effort to ventilate the mine chamber.
A mine safety official stated rescue teams had reached among the mine’s airtight chambers stocked with food, water and oxygen but found no-one there.
US President Barack Obama provided his “deepest condolences” to the families and buddies of those who had died.
“The federal government stands ready to offer you whatever assistance is needed in this rescue effort,” he said at a White House Easter prayer breakfast.
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[...] NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Shares of Massey Energy plunged more than 8% Tuesday, one day after an explosion at one of the company’s coal mines in West Virginia killed at least 25 workers and l…. [...]