West Virginia Mine Rescue Hits 'Set Back' in Search for Miners

MONTCOAL, W.Va., April 8, 2010 — -- Crews trying to reach four miners believed to be trapped deep in the Upper Big Branch mine were pulled back after the first rescue attempt in days hit a 'set back.'

Federal safety official Kevin Stricklin said today that air samples taken as the miners descended detected an explosive mix of elements in the atmosphere.

"We think they are in danger and that's the whole intent of evacuating them from the mine," Stricklin said at a news conference.

He said tests of the air through holes bored into the mountain detected a volatile combination of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane that could erupt into lethal blast similar to the one that killed 25 miners on Monday.

The four rescue teams, made up of a total of 32 people, entered the mine around 5 a.m. to try and reach the airtight chambers inside the mine, which are stocked with oxygen, food and water, and where it is hoped, the missing miners are located.

They got within 1,000 feet of the first rescue chamber before they were forced to turn back.

"If they're alive, they're in that chamber," West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin said today.

Safety experts have said there is enough oxygen stored in rescue chambers for the miners to live for four days if they survived the initial blast and resulting noxious gasses.

Stricklin said it would take at least another 12 hours to ventilate the mine shaft well enough to make it safe for the search teams.

"It's like blowing air into a pop bottle," he said of the efforts to vent the mine. "There's nowhere for the toxic fumes to go."

Manchin reiterated that the families of the miners and the community are clinging to a "sliver of hope."

The rescue crews did not make it far enough into the mine today to reach the bodies of the 14 miners known to have been killed in the blast.

"As much as the families want the bodies out, and I respect, that we have to respect the health and safety of hte rescuers underground," Stricklin said.

Immediately after the disaster, rescue crews rushed into the mine, but were quickly forced to retreat because of the toxic conditions.