Coal Mine Rescuers Have to Retreat Again

They may have to use cameras to check refuge chamber
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 9, 2010 5:44 AM CDT
Coal Mine Rescuers Have to Retreat Again
A decal is seen on the back of a truck in tribute to coal miner Steven Harrah, 40, of Cool Ridge, at Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Chapel in Shady Springs, W.Va on Thursday, April 8, 2010. Harrah was killed Monday in the mine explosion.    (Jeff Gentner))

Officials say rescue teams have had to pull out again from the coal mine in West Virginia where four miners are missing. Federal mine safety official Kevin Stricklin said rescuers were headed to a refuge chamber where they hoped to find the missing miners, but they saw signs of fire and were ordered to retreat.

Stricklin said it does not look like rescuers will physically be able to get to the refuge chamber because of smoke. They may have to depend on cameras to check it out. It was the third time since the Monday blast that rescuers have had to pull out because of dangerous conditions. (More Upper Big Branch mine stories.)

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