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Three die in Utah rescue attempt Three die in Utah rescue attempt
(about 7 hours later)
Three rescuers have died and six have been injured during efforts to reach a group of coal miners trapped underground in the US state of Utah.Three rescuers have died and six have been injured during efforts to reach a group of coal miners trapped underground in the US state of Utah.
It is thought that the rescue workers were caught in a cave-in as they tried to dig a tunnel to the spot where it is believed the six miners are trapped.It is thought that the rescue workers were caught in a cave-in as they tried to dig a tunnel to the spot where it is believed the six miners are trapped.
The collapse happened at 1830 (0035 GMT), according to safety officials. It remains unclear whether below-ground rescue efforts will continue.
No contact has been made with the six trapped miners since a tunnel collapsed 1,500ft (457m) underground on 6 August. No contact has been made with the trapped miners since a tunnel collapsed 1,500ft (457m) underground on 6 August.
Utah mine layout and location Utah mine layout and location
The accident is another setback to the attempt to reach the miners and it is unclear whether rescue operations will resume on Friday. Utah Governor Jon Huntsman called on Friday for underground search operations to be suspended unless workers' safety could be absolutely guaranteed.
Finding volunteers willing to go back in is just one of the mounting dilemmas for this dangerous and now fatal rescue mission, reports the BBC's Duncan Kennedy. "We as a state don't want any more injuries. We've had enough," he told a news conference.
Above-ground drilling efforts to locate the six missing miners are reportedly continuing, with a fourth hole aimed at a spot where "noise" was picked up by a listening device on Wednesday.
Although that development raised hopes, experts say the chances of finding the miners alive are now slim.
'Mountain bump''Mountain bump'
Since the first mine collapse, rescue teams had tunnelled about 250m towards the trapped miners, with about 350m to go, when the latest accident happened. Since the first mine collapse, rescue teams had tunnelled about 250m towards the trapped miners, with about 350m to go, when the latest accident happened at 1835 (0035 GMT) on Thursday.
Dirk Fillpot, spokesman for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, said the accident was caused by a "mountain bump" - a build-up of pressure inside a mine from overhead rock that forces surrounding rock and coal to shoot out of the walls with great force. Dirk Fillpot, spokesman for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, said the collapse was caused by a "mountain bump" - a build-up of pressure inside a mine from overhead rock that forces surrounding rock and coal to shoot out of the walls with great force.
Tonight we have witnessed a most unfortunate incident on top of last week's tragedy Jon HuntsmanGovernor of Utah It just feels like a really hard blow to swallow after all we've been through the last week and a half and everyone trying to cope Huntington Mayor Hilary Gordon
Rescue efforts to reach the trapped men have also been severely hampered by frequent seismic movement inside the mountain, which has caused the walls of the mine to collapse on several occasions. Efforts to reach the trapped men have also been severely hampered by frequent seismic movement inside the mountain, which has caused the walls of the mine to collapse on several occasions.
On Wednesday, a seismic jolt caused one of the mine's supports to burst, partly burying a machine being used to clear the shaft.On Wednesday, a seismic jolt caused one of the mine's supports to burst, partly burying a machine being used to clear the shaft.
Mr Fillpot said all rescue workers had now been evacuated from the mine. Some 130 people had been involved in the operation. Mr Fillpot said all rescue workers had now been evacuated from the mine. Some 130 people, many of them colleagues of the missing miners, had been involved in the operation.
The governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman, later visited the injured rescuers at Castleview Hospital in the nearby town of Price. Huntington Mayor Hilary Gordon told TV news network CNN on Friday: "It just feels like a really hard blow to swallow after all we've been through the last week and a half and everyone trying to cope in their individual way."
"Tonight we have witnessed a most unfortunate incident on top of last week's tragedy," he said in a statement. Initially the original collapse was blamed on an earthquake, but experts have since suggested the shafts might have caved in with enough force to register on seismographs.
"I hope the lessons we learn from this week in Utah will be instrumental in improving mine safety everywhere."
Experts say the chances of finding the six trapped miners alive are now slim, although on Wednesday hopes were raised after listening devices picked up noises.
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.
The workers may have been using a technique known as "retreat mining", where the last standing pillars of coal are pulled down and the roof is allowed to fall in.The workers may have been using a technique known as "retreat mining", where the last standing pillars of coal are pulled down and the roof is allowed to fall in.
The mine's owners have repeatedly insisted their operation was safe and that the mine collapse followed a natural earthquake.The mine's owners have repeatedly insisted their operation was safe and that the mine collapse followed a natural earthquake.
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Do you live in Utah or work in the mining industry? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments by filling out the form below.Do you live in Utah or work in the mining industry? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments by filling out the form below.
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