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Utah mine rescue 'may take week' Utah miners' rescue 'in two days'
(about 20 hours later)
The head of a mine in the US state of Utah - where six men have been trapped underground since Monday - has said it could take a week to reach them. The head of a mine in the US state of Utah - where six men have been trapped underground since Monday - has said they could be rescued in two days.
Robert Murray, chairman of the company which owns Crandall Canyon mine, said rescue efforts would resume once seismic activity subsided. Robert Murray, chairman of the company which owns Crandall Canyon mine, said rescue efforts were about to resume as seismic activity had subsided.
No contact has been made with the men, who are 1,500ft (457m) underground.No contact has been made with the men, who are 1,500ft (457m) underground.
It is unclear how much air is in the mine, although it is reported to be stocked with drinking water.It is unclear how much air is in the mine, although it is reported to be stocked with drinking water.
Mr Murray said there was plenty of oxygen to support the men, if they were still alive. Mr Murray on Wednesday cut his estimate of the time it would take to reach the miners from one week to two days, as rescue teams were preparing to resume the search a day after suspending them because of earth tremors. He said there was plenty of oxygen to support the men if they were still alive.
But an official from the Mine Safety and Health Administration in Washington said it was impossible to know. 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 class="" href="#graphic">Mine layout and location
Rescue efforts were suspended on Tuesday because of earth tremors. name="text">
Rock falls wiped out a 310ft advance made by rescuers, taking them "back to square one", to the point they had reached a day earlier, said Mr Murray. Rock falls wiped out a 310ft advance made by rescuers, taking them "back to square one", said Mr Murray.
They had managed to get within 1,700ft of the men on Monday.They had managed to get within 1,700ft of the men on Monday.
"There is absolutely no way that through our underground rescue effort we can reach the vicinity of the trapped miners for at least one week at the earliest," Mr Murray told reporters.
The group is thought to be 3.4 miles (5.5km) from the mine entrance.The group is thought to be 3.4 miles (5.5km) from the mine entrance.
According to Mexico's consul in Utah, three of the miners are Mexican citizens.According to Mexico's consul in Utah, three of the miners are Mexican citizens.
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 location
It is still not clear what caused the cave-in at the mine, 140 miles (225km) from Salt Lake City.It is still not clear what caused the cave-in at the mine, 140 miles (225km) from Salt Lake City.
Initially the collapse was blamed on an earthquake, but experts have since suggested the shafts might have caved in with enough force to register on seismographs.Initially the collapse was blamed on an earthquake, but experts have since suggested the shafts might have caved in with enough force to register on seismographs.
This has led to speculation that mining procedures could have triggered the incident.This has led to speculation that mining procedures could have triggered the incident.
It has been claimed that the workers were using a risky technique known as "retreat mining", where the last standing pillars of coal are pulled down and the roof is allowed to fall in.It has been claimed that the workers were using a risky technique known as "retreat mining", where the last standing pillars of coal are pulled down and the roof is allowed to fall in.
However, Mr Murray, of Murray Energy Corporation, the mine's owners, insisted that an earthquake caused the collapse.
"This was an earthquake, contrary to what others might have you believe," he said.
HopeHope
Some 135 rescuers and volunteers are involved in the operation to get to the trapped miners. However, Mr Murray insisted that an earthquake caused the collapse.
"This was an earthquake, contrary to what others might have you believe," he said.
Relatives are waiting anxiously for news of the six men
Some 135 people are involved in the rescue operation.
A helicopter ferried machinery and equipment to the site, near the town of Huntington, where two holes are being drilled vertically down to get air and food to the men.A helicopter ferried machinery and equipment to the site, near the town of Huntington, where two holes are being drilled vertically down to get air and food to the men.
Relatives are waiting anxiously for news of the six menThey had initially 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". They had initially hoped to reach the miners via an adjacent mine shaft, but were forced to withdraw after moving just 50ft because of "geological and geotechnical problems".
"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: "I always have hope. When you give up hope you give up life. I won't give up hope."
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.
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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