W.Va. mine blast disaster kills at least 25

NAOMA, W.Va. — Rescue crews on Tuesday began drilling a bore hole into the coal mine where 25 miners were killed in an explosion hoping to find survivors after the worst mine disaster since 1984.

Of 18 men in the mine, four are unaccounted for.

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin said Tuesday three holes will be drilled to a depth of 1,100 feet and will have to pass through two voids of old mine, slowing the process down. The holes will be complete sometime this evening, Manchin said. Rescuers had to bulldoze an access road above it so they could begin drilling three shafts.

"They're telling us it will be a long day into evening until that can get down to do the readings and check the air quality," he said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-04-05-West-Virginia_N.htm

"The Massey Energy coal mine where scores died yesterday has been cited for over 3,000 safety violations resulting in over $2.2 million in fines - most of which the company is contesting - reports ThinkProgress. Massey's CEO Don Blankenship, known for ranting that his critics are "communists" and "enemies" akin to Bin Laden, has been dubbed "the scariest polluter in the U.S."


from commondreams.org


plus:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=239235&mesg_id=239235

I'm guessing that won't go quite as well now as it otherwise might.:nopity:

Perhaps boosting the company's fines to $220 million would make it economically unfeasible to violate worker safety laws.

deciding vote in a case against the company! Hey Teabaggers do you get it now? People like Blankenship don't give a damn about your life or your families lives, they only care about the money. How long will you be fooled?