AP Photo/The Gleaner, Mike Lawrence
This just in from The Associated Press:
One miner has died in a coal mine collapse in western Kentucky and another was missing, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said Thursday after rescuers had to retreat from the underground accident scene.
McConnell announced the news on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Thursday. A McConnell spokesman said in an e-mail that the senator was alerted by officials with the mine operator, Alliance Coal Co. Alliance did not return calls from The Associated Press.
The miners were reported missing after a roof collapsed late Wednesday. Gov. Steve Beshear said rescue crews had to pull back after reaching the site of the collapse when the roof became unstable.
Tim Miller from the United Mine Workers Union said at least two others escaped after a rock fall in the mine near Providence, about 150 miles west of Louisville.
Beshear, who traveled to the scene, said rescue workers located one of miners but he was “unresponsive.” The rescue crew had to retreat when the ceiling shifted.
Beshear says workers were trying to shore up the roof so they could return to the site of the collapse, about 4 miles from the mine portal.
Beshear met privately for about 50 minutes with family members who have gathered at the Nebo Baptist Church.
And MSHA had this update a little while ago:
On April 28, at approximately 10:40 p.m. Central Standard Time, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) received word of a roof collapse at the Dotiki Mine (ID 15-02132) in Hopkins County, Ky. Dotiki is operated by Webster County Coal, LLC and owned by Alliance Resource Partners, LP.
Two miners were originally unaccounted for, but on April 29, at 8:35 a.m. CST, rescue personnel located the first body near the bumper of the continuous mining machine. They were unable to identify him because he is still trapped under rock. Efforts continue to locate the second miner.
MSHA personnel began arriving at the mine at 11:15 p.m. last night.
Rescue personnel entered the mine beginning around 11:30 p.m., and traveled approximately four miles by conveyance to the area where the miners are trapped. Rescue efforts, which include stabilizing the roof and loading out debris, had to be halted around 4:50 a.m. due to adverse roof conditions. These efforts resumed after the roof was stabilized.
MSHA personnel on site include the district manager, assistant district manager, family liaison, roof control supervisor and a roof control specialist. Representatives from the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing also are on site.
Additional Mine Information:
367 employees
Average daily production: 25,500 tons
Seam height average: 60 inches
3 shifts (2 production and 1 maintenance)
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