CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The body of a coal miner was found early Thursday in a mine that flooded in southern West Virginia, announced Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
Rescue crews located the body inside Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc’s Rolling Thunder Mine, situated near Belva, approximately 50 miles east of the state capital, Charleston.
Last Saturday, a mining crew accidentally hit an unknown pocket of water about three-quarters of a mile into the mine, which subsequently flooded after an old mine wall was compromised. Thankfully, more than a dozen other miners were safely accounted for when the accident was reported.
This incident marks the third fatality at an Alpha facility in West Virginia this year. Previous fatalities included an elevator accident in August and a coal seam fall in February, both occurring at nearby facilities.
In an effort to accelerate the search, crews drilled holes in the flooded areas and deployed dive teams to explore where potential air pockets could be located. Communication was enhanced by equipment provided by the National Cave Rescue Commission.
Rolling Thunder is among 11 underground mines operated by Alpha Metallurgical in West Virginia. The company also manages four surface mines in the state, as well as additional operations in Virginia.
This incident raises critical questions about mining safety, as last year's report prepared for Alpha suggested there were no significant hydrologic concerns about coal extraction in the area.
Historical data highlights that the location has been extensively studied, but incidents like this serve as a reminder of the risks associated with coal mining, reminiscent of past tragedies in the region.
