Miners trapped in a Cave-in after Utah Quake

[L Roebuck]

Non-cave related topic:

Six miners trapped after Utah quake
Cave-in reported at coal mine about an hour after tremo

HUNTINGTON, Utah - Six miners were trapped in a cave-in Monday at a coal mine five miles from the epicenter of a minor earthquake, authorities said.

The Genwal mine reported a “cave-in” at 3:50 a.m., an hour after the magnitude 4.0 earthquake, the Emery County sheriff’s office said. “Rescue workers are on scene trying to locate six miners that are unaccounted for,” the sheriff’s office said.

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[Sharon Faulkner]

Interesting debate going on: Did an earthquake cause the Utah mine cave-in or did the mine collapse cause the quake?
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Scientists, executive clash over quake
8/7/2007, 3:58 p.m.
By ALICIA CHANG
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Did an earthquake cause a Utah coal mine to cave in, or did the mine collapse trigger the tremors?

A fierce dispute erupted over that question Tuesday, with a top mine executive declaring on national television that he has the science to prove a quake caused the collapse. But seismologists said their instruments recorded shaking from the cave-in and not a natural temblor.

Scientists believe the seismic waves in the area of the Crandall Canyon mine were "the signature of the collapse and that the collapse was not caused by an earthquake," said James W. Dewey, a seismologist at the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo.

Scientists have not ruled out a natural earthquake since the region surrounding the mine is seismically active, and they do not know the exact time the mine collapsed.

But, Dewey said, "the data we have seen seem more consistent with the collapse being the cause of the 'earthquake' rather than the other way around."

On Monday, University of Utah seismographs recorded seismic waves of 3.9 magnitude near the mine. At least 10 aftershocks were felt more than 24 hours after the collapse, with the strongest registering 2.2 magnitude.

Scientists say quakes caused by mine collapses tend to occur at shallower depths and at different frequencies than natural earthquakes.

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[guanonoggin]

Total bummer..

I hope the dudes get out OK but it kinda looks grim. Think positive thoughts for the miners and families. Good Karma can't hurt.

Peace,
Chuckie

[L Roebuck]

Miner Who Lived Heard Nothing in Cave-In

HUNTINGTON, Utah (AP) - One of four miners who got out of a collapsing coal mine alive said he didn't feel or hear a thing as the mountain shook and caved in, trapping six of his colleagues.

Tim Curtis was near the mine's entrance on Aug. 6 when he got a text message telling him of the collapse on his PED, or personal emergency device. The trapped men are believed to be about 3.4 miles from the mine's entrance.

``Where I was at, I felt nothing,'' Curtis said in an interview with The Associated Press. ``It's just like you are here and three miles away are you going to hear a balloon pop?''

The three other men who escaped the mine unharmed were also believed to be relatively close to the entrance.

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[Sharon Faulkner]

This tragic situation just seems to get worse.

UPDATE: Rescue Worker Killed, Others Injured At Utah Mine
August 16, 2007

HUNTINGTON, Utah (AP) — A disastrous cave-in Thursday night killed a rescue worker and injured at least eight others who were trying to tunnel through rubble to reach six trapped miners, authorities said.

It was a shocking setback on the 11th day of the effort to find miners who have been confined at least 1,500 feet below ground at the Crandall Canyon mine. It’s unknown whether the six are alive or dead.

“All rescue workers have been evacuated from the mine. Nine rescue workers were injured in the accident. One of those suffered fatal injuries,” said Dirk Fillpot, a spokesman for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Article

[Brian Roebuck]

CNN reports three of the nine died with six injured. That's a tough break in an already sad story. Mines are dangerous and miners risk many more hazards than we cavers. Good luck to all of the trapped men and rescuers alike.

[Brian Roebuck]

Bad times for miners!

(CNN) -- Heavy rains poured into a coal mine in east China's Shandong province Friday, trapping 172 miners beneath the surface, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

Xinhua quoted Zhang Dekuan, deputy secretary-general of Shandong's government, saying that 756 miners were underground when the flooding began, and 584 were rescued.