Body of Lost Miner Found in Flooded West Virginia Mine, Governor Announces
Rescue crews have recovered the body of the coal miner who had been missing since a WV mine was inundated with water on the weekend, as stated by the state’s governor on Thursday.
The remains was found inside the mine site near Belva, approximately 80 kilometers to the east of the capital city of Charleston.
Details of the Mining Accident
A mining crew had struck an unknown water reservoir last weekend about three-quarters of a mile into the underground site, which filled with water after an historic barrier “was compromised”, authorities reported. Over twelve other workers were accounted for after the incident was notified.
Recent Deaths at Mining Facilities
This death marks the third incident at a mining facility in the state this calendar year. The previous two occurred in nearby Raleigh county: a case in August when an lift being tested hit a worker on a first-floor platform, and another in February when a coal seam collapsed on a subcontracted employee at a separate location.
Rescue Operation Efforts
Boreholes were created in the mine in an attempt to accelerate the search process, and underwater specialists searched potential areas in the water where air pockets might be present. Specialized communication equipment were provided to facilitate better subsurface contact over great distances.
Mine Background
The mine in question is among eleven underground mines operated in West Virginia by the Tennessee-based corporation. The firm also operates four surface mines in the region, as well as other underground and surface mines in neighboring Virginia.
The governor noted that the abandoned mine next to Rolling Thunder had been in operation during the mid-20th century.
Engineering Report
A study completed in February for the operator by an engineering consulting firm indicated that the area had been “extensively explored” by previous mine owners, generating “a significant amount of historical data” that was reviewed in evaluating its potential for producing coal.
The same report says that the mineral deposit runs parallel to and beneath the drainage of a nearby creek, but said there were “no significant hydrologic concerns” impacting extraction activities.
