Miners Trapped

[PantyFanatic]

The people that go into the earth and bring back the things we all want and use, directly or indirectly had another issue today (http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usmine0103,0,7877247.story?coll=ny-top-headlines). I’m happy to say that in my lifetime, these events are much less frequent than years past. It was the hazards for ‘expendable’ people in this industry that largely brought about the formation of unions in this country and changed working conditions for workers in every trade.

My thoughts and hopes will be on the other side of DreamGirls river for a while.

[Lilith]

I haven't checked the news again yet. I hope they can be saved.

[maddy]

I just checked the news... no successful communication as of yet. There are gases venting from the mine that are preventing rescuers from entering.

[lizzardbits]

I heard about it this evening as i was travelling, and listening to public radio. I almost had to pull over. My worst fear is dying by a cave-in of any sort, or by suffocation. The part that got me the most is that the men are trained to use their 1 hour oxygen supply, that they are required to carry at all times, sparingly. Yes, good that they are trained, but if it were *me* in that situation, i would be freaked out!

I wish to the men trapped and their rescuers Godspeed and they have my thoughts with them and their families.

[dicksbro]

Listening to the news on this now. I join you, PF, in offering my prayers that they will be found alive and be rescued.

[gekkogecko]

When I checked this morning, a hole had been tapped to the area where the trapped miners were thought to be. Unfortunately, there still has been no communication with them. Rescurers are sending down a a remote camera to check for signs of life. Worst part is, the supervisor is "not optimistic" about the air quality in the portion they have been able to get to so far.

There is still some hope that the trapped miners were able to find a different pocket, and we should all keep in mind that lack of evidence is not evidence of lack.

[PantyFanatic]

The noon news didn’t have anything encouraging to add.:( I’m sad to say my concern is turning to the families of the men that go miles into the ground every day, hoping they NEVER find something different. ……….and hope that everybody else always does their job, so they can make a living. It takes better men than me to do that.

[PantyFanatic]

The evening news has taken it to the ‘miracle’ stage of operations now. The next 6 hours are suppose to be decisive. Light your candles, count your beads, sacrifice a goat or whatever makes it work for you. Somebody is going to be in need of your thoughts. :(

NEWS (http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060102114609990005&cid=842)

[BIBI]

Yes, it does sound like a miracle is needed to bring anyone out alive....such a shame.

[PantyFanatic]

Not looking good. :(
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10682163/

[bare4you]

I heard on Fox that they have located one body but there is no sign of the others - God be with all of the families and the men

[LixyChick]

The rescuers that rescued those in the last mining incident are on the scene. I have high hopes for some lives to be saved!

My thoughts are with all of the families and saviors involved!

[maddy]

The news here sounded optimistic, along with the one person found, they also found the car in good condition indicating that the other 12 must have gotten out prior to the explosion. It sounded like there is still hope.

[BIBI]

Well the 12 miners have been rescued....

Prayers for the family of the man that died.


TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va. -- Twelve miners caught in an explosion in a coal mine were found alive Tuesday night, more than 41 hours after the blast, family members 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!"

One miner was found dead earlier Tuesday, the mine's owner, International Coal Group Inc. said.

Neither the company nor the govenor's office immediately confirmed the news.

There were hugs and tears among the crowd outside the Sago Baptist Church loacted near the mine, about 100 miles northeast of Charleston.

[Fangtasia]

We just got news here....1 man survived and 11 are dead, of the ones they thought had survived

A miscommunication was to blame

Tragic News (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17727788-2,00.html)

[dicksbro]

Just heard the news as well. Deepest sympathies to the families of those that were lost; and earnest prayers for the man rescued.

[Lilith]

:( Me too. So incredibly sad.

[Oldfart]

I have been down a coal mine on a school excursion (back before the fear of lawsuits).

I could not do it for a living, and we only went the first 180 metres of over 3 kilometers of tunnel.

The families are in my thoughts.

[dicksbro]

Haven't been in a coal mine, but have been in a salt mine in Austria and in caves here in the US, and like you, Oldfart, wouldn't really want to spend much time "down under."

If the lights go out, black is an understatement.

Always wonder why, in mines, they don't construct concrete block "safety shelters" every so. Equip them with oxygen, emergency rations, etc. (I would think that they could be done inexpensively enough). Or backup air shafts.

[imaginewithme]

How sad.

[lizzardbits]

oh god! how awful! I feel so bad for the families of the 12 and their emotional rollercoaster ride. Miscommunication is to blame for the news of the last trapped being alive, but no one is making any apologies to the families. "Witnesses said one man had to be wrestled to the ground when he lunged for mining officials." (AP) I don't blame that man one bit.....


On happier news..........There is one MIRACLE!!!!! one man survived!!!! right now there are no signs of brain damage and let's keep hoping that the 27 year old pulls thru and recovers.

[Steph]

I have been down a coal mine on a school excursion (back before the fear of lawsuits).

I could not do it for a living, and we only went the first 180 metres of over 3 kilometers of tunnel.


The mine my grandfathers worked is now a tourist attraction. My father had a tough time going down, too.

My heart is breaking over the miscommunication & my thoughts are with the families.

[PantyFanatic]

I didn’t think more dreaded news for a mining family could be had than “trapped men”. ………… but they found it. :(

[BIBI]

Holy crap......shades of "Cool Hand Luke? (I know what I mean)

How on earth did this "miscommunication" ever ever come about?

How devastating for the poor people who thought their loved ones to be alive.

I cannot imagine how these families must be reeling. It's like a cruel joke isn't it?

[WildIrish]

From the latest I've seen, "We've located the miners and are checking their vital signs" was interpreted by the rescue command center as "We have miners that are showing signs of life". I'm sorry, but there's no excuse for any news to have left that command center until it was absolutely, positively 100% accurate and verified. Someone should have thought to ask "ARE THEY ALIVE...YES OR NO?".

God damnit...people hate bad news, but they hate being mislead or lied to even more!

[PantyFanatic]

...God damnit...people hate bad news, but they hate being mislead or lied to even more!
I agree............... but this time I do believe it was emotional stupidity and not the NORMAL premeditated treachery and deceit from the mouth of ‘officials’.

[WildIrish]

I tend to agree with you there. Everyone was so eager to report something positive, and everyone wanted to be the ones to break the news. It's a sad situation all the way around.

[mayhem1978]

HOLY SHIT... ive just read all the posts here and i must say that this goes beyond miscommunication and into the total fuck up area.

I agree with WI someone should have thought to as that question.

I feel so sorry for the relatives of everyone and my heart goes out to them all.

[bare4you]

Not sure which is the bigger tragedy - the loss of the men or the false information about them being found alive and then told otherwise some time later. Either way - a loss of untold magnitude

[PantyFanatic]

I read an earlier report (now updated and not available) that stated the misgiving came from the rescue team’s radio message of “We found the men. We are checking vital signs.” I can understand where what ‘you WANT to hear’ came from that. Not qualifying further before passing along the information was the error. A sad, but human one at that scene I’m sure.

[scotzoidman]

I read an earlier report (now updated and not available) that stated the misgiving came from the rescue team’s radio message of “We found the men. We are checking vital signs.” I can understand where what ‘you WANT to hear’ came from that. Not qualifying further before passing along the information was the error. A sad, but human one at that scene I’m sure.
I think the way we ALL jumped on the erronious "good news" shows that it was just frail human nature, & not maliciously intended to hurt those whose nerves were already frayed...

[Scarecrow]

I read an earlier report (now updated and not available) that stated the misgiving came from the rescue team’s radio message of “We found the men. We are checking vital signs.” I can understand where what ‘you WANT to hear’ came from that. Not qualifying further before passing along the information was the error. A sad, but human one at that scene I’m sure.

I saw a similar story(also no longer available), that a forman in the control center called a freind at the church, telling him what was happening and someone over heard just a part of the conversation. As I said that story is no where to be found now.

[gekkogecko]

Mostly stayed out of this thread...just...ungh.

What really worries me is why the company was asking the miners to head into a crisis waiting to happen...and how many other mines in our country are like this one.

[jseal]

Reality Check (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4585482.stm)