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Fresh moves to free 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.
No contact has been made with the men, and the mine owner said rescuers would take three days to reach them.No contact has been made with the men, and the mine owner said rescuers would take three days to reach them.
An overnight attempt to break the seals of the old mine was abandoned because of safety concerns.An overnight attempt to break the seals of the old mine was abandoned because of safety concerns.
The men are said to be 1,500ft (457m) below ground and 3.4 miles (5.5km) from the entrance of Crandall Canyon mine.The men are said to be 1,500ft (457m) below ground and 3.4 miles (5.5km) from the entrance of Crandall Canyon mine.
If the miners survived the collapse, they will have enough air and water to last several days, the mine company said.If the miners survived the collapse, they will have enough air and water to last several days, the mine company said.
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
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.
However, Robert Murray of Murray Energy Corporation is still insisting that an earthquake caused the collapse.However, Robert Murray of Murray Energy Corporation is still insisting that an earthquake caused the collapse.
"This was an earthquake, contrary to what others might have you believe," he said."This was an earthquake, contrary to what others might have you believe," he said.
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.
The mine's owners insist that their facility is safe.
'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 with powerful equipment. Attempts were being made in a number of different ways to rescue the men but the mine company said it would take three days to reach them, if everything goes right.
Rescuers transported a large drilling rig to the site of the mine on Tuesday, after a road was cut overnight through the surrounding forest. Another drill was brought in by helicopter.
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 Corp
We will be on our feet until we get these men out, one way or another Robert Murraychairman, Murray Energy Corporation "Progress has been too slow, too slow," Mr Murray told reporters, saying rescuers were initially hoping to drill a 2in hole into the cavity in which the men are trapped.
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. "At that point we will know whether they're alive or dead," Mr Murray said.
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. Overnight hundreds of rescuers at the Crandall Canyon mine, near the town of Huntington, drilled through rock and debris.
Mr Murray said the rescuers were "using every means known to mankind" to reach the miners, three of whom are Mexican. They had hoped to reach the miners via an adjacent, abandoned mine shaft, but were forced to withdraw after moving just 50ft because of "geological and geotechnical problems".
"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."
HopeHope
There has been no contact with the six miners since the tunnel collapsed at about 0250 (0848 GMT) on Monday.There has been no contact with the six miners since the tunnel collapsed at about 0250 (0848 GMT) on Monday.
"The families are doing well considering the circumstances," said Mr Murray, describing the incident as "a tragedy for them and for America".
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.
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.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.
Experts have said the number of citations is not unusual, and the mine's owners have insisted they run a safe mine.Experts have said the number of citations is not unusual, and the mine's owners have insisted they run a safe 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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