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Race to free trapped Utah miners Fresh moves to free Utah miners
(about 1 hour later)
Rescuers in the US state of Utah are to begin drilling through a mountainside to try to free six miners trapped in a collapsed mine since early on Monday.Rescuers in the US state of Utah are to begin drilling through a mountainside to try to free six miners trapped in a collapsed mine since early on Monday.
Vertical and horizontal shafts will be drilled to try to reach an abandoned mine close to the site of the accident.Vertical and horizontal shafts will be drilled to try to reach an abandoned mine close to the site of the accident.
An initial attempt to break the seals of the old mine failed late on Monday.An initial attempt to break the seals of the old mine failed late on Monday.
So far there has been no contact with the men, thought to be 1,500ft (457m) below ground and 3.4 miles (5.5km) from the entrance of Crandall Canyon mine.So far there has been no contact with the men, thought to be 1,500ft (457m) below ground and 3.4 miles (5.5km) from the entrance of Crandall Canyon mine.
The collapse was initially blamed on an earthquake, but experts have since suggested the shafts may have caved in with enough force to register on seismographs.The collapse was initially blamed on an earthquake, but experts have since suggested the shafts may have caved in with enough force to register on seismographs.
US federal mining inspectors are reported to have issued a number of citations over alleged safety violations at the mine, 140 miles (225km) from Salt Lake City, in recent years.US federal mining inspectors are reported to have issued a number of citations over alleged safety violations at the mine, 140 miles (225km) from Salt Lake City, in recent years.
'Sparing no expense''Sparing no expense'
Hundreds of rescuers worked throughout Monday at the Crandall Canyon mine, near the town of Huntington, digging and drilling through rock and debris. Hundreds of rescuers worked throughout Monday at the Crandall Canyon mine, near the town of Huntington, digging and drilling through rock and debris with powerful equipment.
They had hoped to reach the miners via an adjacent, abandoned mine shaft, which could have put them within 100ft (30m) of the miners, but they were forced to withdraw amid further rock falls. They had hoped to reach the miners via an adjacent, abandoned mine shaft, which could have put them within 100ft (30m) of the miners, but were forced to withdraw amid further rock falls.
We will be on our feet until we get these men out, one way or another Robert MurrayChairman, Murray Energy CorporationWe will be on our feet until we get these men out, one way or another Robert MurrayChairman, Murray Energy Corporation
Afterwards, rescuers spent the night clearing a road outside the mine to allow a large drilling rig to reach the site. Another drill was also brought in by helicopter. Rescuers later spent the night and early morning clearing a road outside the mine to allow a large drilling rig to reach the site. Another drill was brought in by helicopter on Tuesday.
The chairman of the parent company of Genwal, the firm that runs the mine, said his workers would drill vertically from the top of the mountain while others would bore horizontally into the mountainside to reach the adjacent shaft.The chairman of the parent company of Genwal, the firm that runs the mine, said his workers would drill vertically from the top of the mountain while others would bore horizontally into the mountainside to reach the adjacent shaft.
Robert Murray of Murray Energy Corporation said the rescuers were "using every means known to mankind" to reach the miners. Robert Murray of Murray Energy Corporation said the rescuers were "using every means known to mankind" to reach the miners, three of whom are Mexican.
"We're sparing no expense to bring every mining machine that we have in Utah in here," he told reporters."We're sparing no expense to bring every mining machine that we have in Utah in here," he told reporters.
"We will be on our feet until we get these men out, one way or another. We just may get them out in two or three days unharmed.""We will be on our feet until we get these men out, one way or another. We just may get them out in two or three days unharmed."
Mr Murray said the miners, if they survived, had enough air and water to last several days. Mr Murray said the miners, if they survived the collapse, had enough air and water to last several days.
HopeHope
There has been no contact with the men since the mine collapsed at around 0250 local time (0848 GMT) on Monday. There has been no contact with the six miners since the tunnel collapsed at about 0250 (0848 GMT) on Monday.
CRANDALL CANYON MINE Located in Manti-La Sal National Forest, 16 miles (25km) from HuntingtonUses the "retreat mining" method, which experts say is one of most dangerous Coal pillars hold up area of mine's roof. When completely mined, pillars are pulled, causing intentional roof collapse Mine layout and locationCRANDALL CANYON MINE Located in Manti-La Sal National Forest, 16 miles (25km) from HuntingtonUses the "retreat mining" method, which experts say is one of most dangerous Coal pillars hold up area of mine's roof. When completely mined, pillars are pulled, causing intentional roof collapse Mine layout and location
Judy Bishop, whose cousin was among the trapped miners, told Reuters news agency the families were "hopeful but sombre".Judy Bishop, whose cousin was among the trapped miners, told Reuters news agency the families were "hopeful but sombre".
"I always have hope. When you give up hope you give up life. I won't give up hope," she said."I always have hope. When you give up hope you give up life. I won't give up hope," she said.
The US Geological Survey reported a 3.9 magnitude earthquake at the moment of the mine collapse, prompting speculation that the quake had triggered the cave-in. US federal mining inspectors have issued 325 citations for alleged safety violations at the mine since January 2004. Of those, 116 were considered "significant and substantial" and likely to cause injury.
But the USGS National Earthquake Information Centre raised the possibility that the collapse could have caused a seismic wave. Experts have said the number of citations is not unusual, and the mine's owners have insisted they run a safe mine.
US federal mining inspectors have issued more than 300 citations for alleged safety violations at the mine since January 2004. Of those, 116 were considered "significant and substantial" and likely to cause injury.
When asked about safety, Mr Murray insisted his company ran a very safe coal mine.
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Are you in the area? Do you work at or have connections with the mine? Send us your details using the form below.Are you in the area? Do you work at or have connections with the mine? Send us your details using the form below.
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