Flags Lowered as Search Continues for Missing West Virginia Miners

Governor Joe Manchin ordered flags lowered to half staff in West Virginia to mourn the deaths of at least 25 miners in an explosion.
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Flags Lowered as Search Continues for Missing West Virginia Miners
A sign that reads 'Pray For Our Miners And Families' is taped to the back window of a car on April 8, 2010 in Whitesville, West Virginia. The search for three unaccounted miners has been suspended due to dangerous gasses trapped underground. Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Mary Silver
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<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/virginia-98328931.jpg" alt="A sign that reads 'Pray For Our Miners And Families' is taped to the back window of a car on April 8, 2010 in Whitesville, West Virginia. The search for three unaccounted miners has been suspended due to dangerous gasses trapped underground. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)" title="A sign that reads 'Pray For Our Miners And Families' is taped to the back window of a car on April 8, 2010 in Whitesville, West Virginia. The search for three unaccounted miners has been suspended due to dangerous gasses trapped underground. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1821285"/></a>
A sign that reads 'Pray For Our Miners And Families' is taped to the back window of a car on April 8, 2010 in Whitesville, West Virginia. The search for three unaccounted miners has been suspended due to dangerous gasses trapped underground. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Governor Joe Manchin ordered flags lowered to half staff in West Virginia to mourn the deaths of at least 25 miners in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal on Monday.

Rescuers are drilling four holes as deep as 1200 feet to remove toxic gases, so search teams can enter and try to find the four men not confirmed dead.

Samples taken Wednesday morning showed unsafe levels of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

According to news reports, rescuers have not heard any sounds from the four missing miners.

Kevin Stricklin, an official with the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, said at a news conference late Wednesday afternoon that it was still too dangerous for rescuers to enter the mine.

 

Mary Silver
Mary Silver
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Mary Silver writes columns, grows herbs, hikes, and admires the sky. She likes critters, and thinks the best part of being a journalist is learning new stuff all the time. She has a Masters from Emory University, serves on the board of the Georgia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and belongs to the Association of Health Care Journalists.
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