This really is heartbreaking.
HUNTINGTON, Utah -- A disastrous cave-in Thursday night killed three rescue workers and injured at least six others who were trying to tunnel through rubble to reach trapped miners, authorities said. Mining officials were considering whether to suspend the rescue effort.
It was a shocking setback on the 11th day of the effort to find six miners who have been confined at least 1,500 feet below ground at the Crandall Canyon mine. It's unknown if the six are alive or dead.
Six of the injured were taken to Castleview Hospital in Price. One died there, one was airlifted to a Salt Lake City hospital, one was released and three were being treated, said Jeff Manley, the hospital's chief executive.
The second dead worker passed away at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, said hospital spokeswoman Janet Frank. Another worker there was in critical condition with head trauma but was alert, she said.
The third death was confirmed by Rich Kulczewski, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Labor, but additional details were not immediately available.
...Authorities said the cave-in was caused by a mountain bump, which commonly refers to pressure inside the mine that shoots coal from the walls with great force. Seismologists say such an event caused the Aug. 6 cave-in that trapped six men inside the central Utah mine.
Thursday's bump at 8:39 p.m. showed up as a magnitude 1.6 seismic event at University of Utah seismograph stations in Salt Lake City, said university spokesman Lee Siegel.
Family members of miners, many in tears, gathered at the mine's front entrance looking for news.
The fate of the six miners trapped during the August 6 cave-in is still unknown.
While there is a glimmer of hope that by some miracle they'll be found alive, there are now three confirmed deaths at the Crandall Canyon mine.
When I heard about the deaths of these men and the many injured during the rescue attempt, my heart sank.
Is there no end to this tragedy?
My prayers are with the miners and their families.
_______________________
UPDATE: The underground search has been suspended indefinitely.
Susana Salcido sobbed when told Friday that the search for her cousin Manuel Sanchez and the other miners had been suspended indefinitely.
"Yesterday we were hopeful after learning that they had heard noises (inside the rubble)," said Salcido, who lives in Sanchez's home town of Nuevo Casas Grandes.
"We never imagined that instead of good news we would hear about another tragedy," she added, referring to the killed rescuers.
Even so, she said she is not ready to lose hope.
"All we can do now is pray for a miracle," Salcido said.
6 comments:
Utah’s six miners that have been trapped now for about 12 days, has been a world-wide tragedy. And now Utah has lost 3 more men to rescue the six still trapped which no one knows whether they are alive or dead. I have felt since the beginning that the rescue operation was dangerous to the rescue workers and that another accident would be likely. I am glad to hear that they finally decided that the rescue of those six men has been suspended through the horizontal caves. However, I support the continued effort to continue the vertical drilling that has and is still continuing because I feel that will be the best way to find the six miners and the best way to rescue them without more lost of life. One thing I am upset about is asking where Mr. Murray is. Think about what this man has been through. He was one of the people who went in to dig out these men and probably saw the miners who lost their lives. He is probably so distraught that he may need time to deal with this new lose. I am sure that he has had little sleep. Mr. Murray has to be feeling a great responsibly for their deaths. Give him a break. It is not uncommon that Vice President assistants a president; that is the point of having a Vice President who will represent the President when he is unavailable for ANY reason, give him a break!
Beth Roberts
Albany, OR
Previous resident of Utah
Naturally, people lash out and want to cast blame.
In Mr. Murray's case, the buck stops with him.
I agree with you. He is probably a mess.
Looking at this from an unemotional, purely business standpoint, why would Murray want to jeopardize his workers and his company?
That's a risk that runs counter to profit.
Even if Murray didn't have a compassionate bone in his body, he wouldn't want his mine to be the site of such a tragedy.
All the people touched by this are in my prayers.
I'm also keeping the families, friends, and co-workers of those killed in the Indiana mine accident in my prayers.
i am a western ky coal miner , and these 6 men and families deserve some closure! i hate that the rescue workers were killed but, they were rescue workers. thats a risk that goes with being a rescuer! they definitely should drill the 30 inch hole and send a willing worker in on the inby side of the fall to locate the bodies!
Would you be willing?
That would be a very selfless act.
yes i would be willing! its not selfless, its caring, its respect. you probably have no idea what its like to be in a coal mines , let alone be trapt , what about the families whove lost loved ones?! sounds like youre selfish
A SELFLESS act is a caring act.
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