Update From Reuters: 3 Rescuers Killed At Utah Mine

[Hissyspit]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070817/us_nm/mine_utah_dc

Three rescuers killed as Utah mine caves
21 minutes ago

SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - Three of the rescuers attempting to find six workers trapped in a Utah mine since last week have been killed following a cave-in, officials said on Thursday. Additionally, six rescuers were injured, said Tammy Kikuchi, a spokeswoman with Utah's Department of Natural Resources.

She confirmed the third death, but it was not known at which hospital that rescuer died. The others died at Castleview Hospital in Price, Utah -- about 20 miles from the mine site at Crandall Canyon in Huntington -- and at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah.

The cave-in, which occurred about 6:35 p.m. MDT (8:35 p.m. EDT), was referred to as a "mountain bump" -- an eruption of rock and coal under increased pressure from overhead rock as drilling removes surrounding rock and material shifts in an area of the mine.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said all rescue workers were evacuated from the mine and were accounted for, the Salt Lake City Tribune reported on its Web site. The six trapped miners who were the subject of the search have not been heard from since the central Utah mine caved in on August 6.

- snip -

Crandall Canyon Mine co-owner Robert Murray said earlier on Thursday the cavity found by a third bore hole had enough oxygen to sustain life indefinitely and that his crews would keep up efforts to contact the missing men.

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[HCE SuiGeneris]

1. Under the guise of "don't give up hope" from the corrupt

pig (CEO) that jeopardized them in the first place by circumventing OSHA rules. His ass needs to be in jail.

[B Calm]

5. Damn right he needs to be thrown in jail. This was murder!

[yellowcanine]

2. Well shit. Condolances to their families. Is the owner still blaming it on an earthquake?

My understanding is that the trapped miners were engaged in a highly risky mining technique that involved extracting every last bit of coal from support columns as they worked their way back out of the mine shaft. One mistake and the whole thing comes down. There needs to be a major reassessment as to the wisdom of that methodology - and an investigation as to why such a technique was permitted by mine safety regulations in the first place - if it was.

[JTFrog]

3. Good thing

Murray took on the rescue efforts himself and turned away the Deer Creek rescue team (although he had no problem using their equipment). Sure would suck if someone else got in there first to see what really happened. And he was smart enough to tell the feds to screw off, he ain't giving them no rescue reports. :sarcasm:

Why have they let this man turn this into an even bigger disaster? That piece of scum better pay for all the men who've lost their lives in this disaster. Every time I see his face I'm reminded of just what republicans really stand for. He is a disgusting piece of work.

[Hissyspit]

4. And on top of all that he had the gall to attack Pelosi when she questioned

his mine safety record. What a piece of robber baron shit he is.

[JTFrog]

6. Wasn't that Barbara Boxer?

Unless he also attacked Pelosi. I missed it if he did.

He was beyond rude in the encounter I saw with Boxer. She was solid as a rock tho. And of course "resented" her bringing in facts about his Ohio mine because his evil enemies the unions and safety associations don't tell the truth about him. This guy oozes slime.

[Hissyspit]

9. Mm, I believe you're right. n/t

[mtnester]

7. Maybe NOW the Feds will step in and take back this rescue

mission from a man who is trying DESPERATELY to cover his ass? And yes, even at the expense of rescue workers?

This entire rescue incident is complteley out of hand. I find it beyond insane that the MINE OWNER has run this rescue operation this long..time to turn it over to the proper nvestigating and yes, rescue operations people...meaning a coordinated effort among many rather than one guy, calling all the shots (a non expert in rescue)

I am not saying this very well - this whole thing SMELLS to high heaven.

[malaise]

8. The governor seems more willing than the Feds

based on his comment last night. By the way Stickler(who has been side by side with Murray the pig) is a Bush recess appointee. He was rejected by both Dems and Rethugs. It doesn't appear to matter since Cheney and the Rethug party 'got' their backs.

Sadly for them the real experts are on to them now.