How many died in the Montcoal, WV coal mine explosion?”
25 dead in W.Va. mine blast, worst since 1984 By LAWRENCE MESSINA Associated Press Writer © 2010 The Associated Press April 6, 2010, 7:36AM MONTCOAL, W.Va. — A huge underground explosion blamed on methane gas killed 25 coal miners in the worst U.S. mining disaster in more than two decades. Four others were missing Tuesday, their chances of survival dimming as rescuers were held back by poison gases that accumulated near the blast site, about 1.5 miles into the complex. Rescuers prepared to drill three shafts going down over 1,000 feet each to release methane and carbon monoxide that chased them from the mine after the blast Monday afternoon, Gov. Joe Manchin said. The explosion rocked Massey Energy Co.’s sprawling Upper Big Branch mine, about 30 miles south of Charleston, which has a history of violations for not properly ventilating the highly combustible methane, safety officials said. Manchin said at an early morning news briefing that while drilling on at least one of the three hol
