Terrible blast in WVA mine...

**R13** · April 5th, 2010, 06:42 PM

(CNN) -- An explosion occurred Monday in a West Virginia mine, leaving more than 20 people unaccounted for, said Jimmy Gianato, director of homeland security for the state.

West Virginia's state mine director reported that six coal miners were dead and 21 were missing after the explosion in Raleigh County, according to CNN affiliate WCHS.

The explosion happened at about 4:30 p.m. at Massey Energy's Performance Coal Co. mine in Whitesville, 30 miles south of Charleston, it said.

WCHS: Six deaths reported

The company identified the facility as Upper Big Branch Mine.

Rescue teams and state and federal agencies were responding.

Massey Energy Co., based in Richmond, Virginia, has operations in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia. It is the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia, it said in a statement.

Blast reported at West Virginia mine; More than 20 unaccounted for - CNN.com

**Milk3** · April 6th, 2010, 12:05 AM

I hate hearing this stuff

I have so many family members and friends that work in the mines it just makes me sick

**Unchained** · April 6th, 2010, 02:52 AM

The death toll is now at 25. May God hold up the families of those lost. I have so much respect for the men who do that dangerous and hard job to put food on the table.

**centennialdawg** · April 6th, 2010, 08:17 AM

A few years ago, there were several people from this area who got jobs at that very mine because of better pay and benefits. Let's all hope none of those people were there and let's all pray for the families and community that this tragedy has affected.

**R13** · April 6th, 2010, 01:16 PM

Search for miners after deadly blast could take days - CNN.com

Good updated article on it, 25 dead and 4 missing. My step-dad is a miner, his brother, my grandfather was, my uncle was, great-grandfather was...a big reason why everyone of them told me to never go into the mines, this hits close to home with a lot of us.

**Unchained** · April 6th, 2010, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by R13

Search for miners after deadly blast could take days - CNN.com

Good updated article on it, 25 dead and 4 missing. My step-dad is a miner, his brother, my grandfather was, my uncle was, great-grandfather was...a big reason why everyone of them told me to never go into the mines, this hits close to home with a lot of us.

My grandmother's first husband was killed in the mines. She was left very young and with 3 little ones to raise. You'll find alot of folk around who who felt that kind of sorrow sadly.

**Rocky** · April 6th, 2010, 06:10 PM

Massey is the company that is buying out or has bought out cumberland resources in this area. I hope this was a freak accident and that they were using/do use proper safety procedure in their mining. (i know thats hard to come by)

**R13** · April 6th, 2010, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Rocky

Massey is the company that is buying out or has bought out cumberland resources in this area. I hope this was a freak accident and that they were using/do use proper safety procedure in their mining. (i know thats hard to come by)

I just heard them talking about them, said they had a good track record last year safety wise, but this particular mine should not have been operating...so really their one slip up caused the biggest mine disaster in 25 years.

**starbuck** · April 8th, 2010, 12:11 PM

my cousins wife has a nephew that works at this mine and had gotten off work about an hour before this happend.

according to the news this mine just in March alone had hundreds of violations.

**simple man** · April 9th, 2010, 01:05 PM

Smoke from a fire now...and pumping nitrogen in 2 days after Massey was asked to get the stuff on site. This might be one they have to seal to put out. The mined-out area is huge, but sealed..as long as the seals withstood the explosion. Tough choices...haven't even IDed the ones they found.