January 04, 2006
Under-Mountain Miracle
The twelve missing miners feared dead in West Virginia have been found... alive.
Twelve miners caught in an explosion in a coal mine were found alive Tuesday night, more than 41 hours after the blast, family members and Gov. Joe Manchin said.Bells at a church where relatives had been gathering rang out as family members ran out screaming in jubilation.
Relatives were yelling, "They're alive!"
Manchin said rescuers told him the miners were found.
"They told us they have 12 alive," Manchin said. "We have some people that are going to need some medical attention."
A few minutes after word came, the throng, several hundred strong, broke into a chorus of the hymn "How Great Thou Art," in a chilly, night air.
Of course he isn't safe. But he's good. *
Update: Early AM reports turned out to be false. 11 of 12 miners found were deceased. Only one miner, Randal McCloy, is clinging to life in critical condition.
The rumor started when people overheard communications between rescue team and the comand center and misunderstood calls that rescuers found 12 miners and were checking their vital signs.
This is definitely good news. But there seems to have been quite a few underlying problems, with this mine and the industry as a whole that caused this incident.
The real tragedy is that we still rely on an incredibly dirty fossil fuel to power our lives, when nuclear is both safer and renewable if used properly.
You can find all my reasons for preferring nuclear, as well as commentary about the Chinese coal situation (6500 deaths per year) at Earth Sentinel where you will also find peak oil, renewable energy, and climate change news.
Posted by: Earth Sentinel at January 4, 2006 01:36 AMUnfortuneatelly the update is only 1 was found alive, my heart goes out to the families of the others. My Grandfather was a coal miner, its a tough way to make a living.
Posted by: Retired Navy at January 4, 2006 06:03 AMMy grandfather was also a coal miner. He died from black lung. But his children left WV a long time ago. My heart goes out to the families of these coal miners.
Posted by: seawitch at January 4, 2006 08:18 AMI think this is a case where some Clinton style lip-biting is in order. Bush should attend a memorial service for these lost miners and stress how dangerous and yet how important their work is, providing warmth and light to the American people. After the broken heart, these families, like the military families, need to here that their sacrifice was important.
Tob
Posted by: Toby928 at January 4, 2006 12:28 PMGreat comment Toby! I agree! These men died providing a strategic resource to our nation. The President should speak.
Marshall
Posted by: Marshall Neal at January 4, 2006 01:13 PM
