US coal mine collapse traps six-Utah - Thread No. 3

[FlowerChild]

Seriously? There are dead bodies out in the open on Everest?
Jubie

Mount Everest is both the highest mountain and the highest graveyard in the world. As of 2002, 175 climbers had died on the mountain, and the vast majority of these bodies were left behind. There are reported to be at least 41 bodies just on the north side of Everest.

The high altitude, low oxygen, fierce winds, and intense cold make the trip extremely challenging even for an unencumbered person, so few climbers attempt to take the bodies of the deceased back with them.

http://ask.yahoo.com/20041102.html

If you climb Everest, you go past MANY bodies - and yes, just lying our in the open frozen - still dressed. They lie where they died. They say that those who died there didn't have far to go - it's only a short distance from the top of the world to Heaven.

Every day people die (or go missing forever) and their families NEVER get their remains. From Soldiers buried in Europe, to those who never returned from Vietnam, Victims of 9-11, Katrina, to Climbers, Astronauts, Miners, Divers and Explorers. The families will survive this - just as families all over the world touched by disaster and accident and foul play have survived it before them.

I have said since the beginning that I feel great sympathy for these miner's loved ones and friends - but at some point they must honor these men by beginning to move past this and focusing on the living and life and the legacy of the men who died.

Those men are not "in the mine" - just the shells remain - their spirits soared free lifted on angel's wings. What made those men who they were is gone - but they still live in the family and friends they left behind. The men would NEVER want a single person to die trying to reach a body they don't need any more - the mountain has already claimed 9 good men, 9 too many. It must end.

Sending thoughts of peace and comfort and strength to all those who lost someone in the mine.

My Opinion

 

[Mygirlsadie]

I been thinking about these miners alot and I wonder exactly how far could they be inside that mine? What time did they enter the mine and how far could they have gotten before the explosion occured?

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

My guess is that their bodies are in the area they were last seen working. With as strong as the mountain bump was (abt 4.0) and no warning I don't think they had time to get out of it's way.

I been thinking about these miners alot and I wonder exactly how far could they be inside that mine? What time did they enter the mine and how far could they have gotten before the explosion occured?

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Miners Deal with Layoffs by Beleaguered Murray Energy Corp.
August 31st, 2007 @ 3:39pm

PRICE, Utah (AP) -- Dustin Montoya will get $400 a week in jobless pay after being laid off at one of the coal mines owned by Murray Energy Corp., the operator of the mine that left six workers trapped after an Aug. 6 cave-in.

Montoya declined to take up mine boss Bob Murray's offer of work at other company mines in Illinois and Ohio.

"I can't leave my family behind," Montoya said. "I got two young kids, a wife. I ain't going to do it."

Montana was one of the 170 miners laid off after the collapse of the Crandall Canyon mine near Huntington. He showed up Thursday at a state unemployment office with a dozen others for a seminar on jobless benefits, training options and educational programs.

Some companies set up recruitment booths.

"Somebody might be willing to come to Vernal and work for us," said Paul Moorman, a recruiter from oil-services contractor Halliburton Co.
Miners say other jobs available to them generally don't pay as well.

This is the second time Montoya has been laid off by Murray Energy. The first was 15 days before last Christmas, when the company let about 100 miners go. Montoya went back to work at Carbon County's West Ridge Mine in March.

Now he's out of work again.

"I think I'm done. I'm done working for Bob Murray and his company," he said.

Murray had to abandon the Crandall Canyon mine where drill crews are trying to locate the trapped miners. Then he temporarily shut down the Aberdeen mine, 7 miles north of Price, as engineers test its ability to withstand seismic shocks that have plagued the Crandall Canyon search and rescue operation.

Murray consolidated crews at the West Ridge mine, laying off some miners there and sending about 40 veterans to jobs in the Midwest.

More at link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1730163

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Buzzm1,

I was wrong about the #4 borehole being the one where there was little clearance. I think that was the #5 borehole.

Here is what was said about the #4 borehole:

Rescuers then rapidly returned to the fourth hole, where earlier in the effort a camera recorded a livable space in the tunnel but variable oxygen levels. Today, crews will attempt to lower a robotic camera to search that tunnel for signs of the miners.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6767093

1414'--------------1586'------------1703'--------1865'------------2039'------------
3rd----------------4th---------------6th---7/1----2nd--------------5th---------------rescue
Hole---------------Hole-------------Hole--Hole---Hole-------------Hole--------------workers
CC147-<-520'->-CC143-<-520'->-CC139<260'>CC137-<-520'->-CC133-<-780'->-CC127
there's 130 feet between crosscuts

If I recall correctly, wasn't it Hole #4 where there was only a little clearance?? Seems that they said six, or so, inches??

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Rescue Operations at Crandall Canyon Mine Suspended
August 31st, 2007 @ 7:00pm

Update
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Federal safety official are indefinitely suspending efforts to find six men trapped inside a Utah coal mine after a robotic camera failed to provide any useful information. That's according to an attorney for the men's families.

Colin King says that federal officials told the families of the six trapped miners that a robotic camera was successfully dropped down bore hole No. 4 and moved around over piles of debris, but quickly became stuck in the mud.

He says families were told today that officials were also unable to retrieve the camera from the hole and had to leave it stuck about 50 feet from the surface.

King says the families cried upon hearing the news.

It's unclear if the six trapped miners are alive or dead.

More at link: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1727262

 

[close_enough]

Rescue Operations at Crandall Canyon Mine Suspended
August 31st, 2007 @ 7:00pm

Update
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Federal safety official are indefinitely suspending efforts to find six men trapped inside a Utah coal mine after a robotic camera failed to provide any useful information. That's according to an attorney for the men's families.

Colin King says that federal officials told the families of the six trapped miners that a robotic camera was successfully dropped down bore hole No. 4 and moved around over piles of debris, but quickly became stuck in the mud.

He says families were told today that officials were also unable to retrieve the camera from the hole and had to leave it stuck about 50 feet from the surface.
King says the families cried upon hearing the news.
It's unclear if the six trapped miners are alive or dead.

Source: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1727262

how sad

 

[Buzz Mills]

Rescue Operations at Crandall Canyon Mine Suspended
August 31st, 2007 @ 7:00pm

Update
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Federal safety official are indefinitely suspending efforts to find six men trapped inside a Utah coal mine after a robotic camera failed to provide any useful information. That's according to an attorney for the men's families.

Colin King says that federal officials told the families of the six trapped miners that a robotic camera was successfully dropped down bore hole No. 4 and moved around over piles of debris, but quickly became stuck in the mud.

He says families were told today that officials were also unable to retrieve the camera from the hole and had to leave it stuck about 50 feet from the surface.
King says the families cried upon hearing the news.

It's unclear if the six trapped miners are alive or dead.

Source: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1727262

This appears to finally be the end of it. It has been 25 days.

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

HUNTINGTON -The search for the missing miners in the Crandall Canyon mine is over.

Colin King, attorney for the miners' families, said this evening the officials with the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration told the families that the search was "done, it's finished," and there are no plans to resume it.

The MSHA representatives, whom King did not identify, also told the families during a briefing at the Desert Edge Christian Church that the miners - missing since a horrific collapse on Aug. 6 - are considered to be dead.

"It's a hard and bitter pill for our families to swallow, and there were quite a few tears in there today," King said.

And despite MSHA's stance, King added, "I only hope that one day we'll be able to get them out of there."

 

[trixie]

It had to end. I personally think they've been gone from the beginning. Someone had to just stand up and make the call. RIP Gentlemen.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

I believe they did exhaust all possibilities of getting the men out of the mine. As sad of a reality as it is, it is time.

Bless the families of the missing 6 and the families of the men who died trying to find them. Their lives are forever changed and the landscape of mining has also been changed for hopefully the better.

It is now up to the families left behind to grieve and go through the natural stages of mourning. They need the nation's support and love during this time. I know their community has been there and will continue to be there for them. I pray they will find the strength through others and the peace they need within themselves to move on from this tragedy.

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

<snip>
Families of the missing men and the lost rescue workers gathered on a mountaintop above Huntington on Friday afternoon to release a rehabilitated golden eagle into the wild.

The bird, which had been cared for by the Southwest Wildlife Foundation, was a symbol of healing and hope, Huntington City Councilwoman Julie Jones said.

Representatives from each family touched the bird, offering up prayers, some audible and some whispered, for their loved ones.

Wendy Black, the wife of killed rescuer Dale "Bird" Black, held the eagle at the end of the ceremony and released it, Jones said.

"It was awesome," Jones said. "It was a very emotional thing."
</snip>

More at link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/31/utah.mine.collapse.ap/index.html

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Families move on, start the healing
By Jessica Ravitz
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 09/02/2007 12:18:00 AM MDT

PRICE - The dream woke him with a start. The seventh borehole had just been punched, and the six men trapped in the Crandall Canyon mine were found alive.

"I woke up screaming and hollering, 'Yes' '' recalled Cesar Sanchez, before his voice trailed off, "but it didn't happen. . . ."

Sanchez sat in his backyard Saturday, trying to face reality. The bodies of his brother, Manuel "Manny" Sanchez and five other miners trapped in an Aug. 6 cave-in at the mine - Kerry Allred, Don Erickson, Luis Hernandez, Juan Carlos Payan and Brandon Phillips - will not be recovered anytime soon. Mine Safety and Health Administration officials ended search efforts Friday, and MSHA assistant secretary Richard Stickler issued a statement Saturday saying officials had "exhausted all known options" to reach the men and "there is no remaining hope of finding the miners alive."

Now the families and the larger community face the challenge of moving on with their daily lives.

Sanchez's 13-year-old son, Jose, mourns the loss of his uncle, who used to take the boy fishing, rabbit hunting and four-wheeling - but is embracing the distraction of a new school year. Steve Allred, Kerry's brother, expressed outrage about the end of the search, but couldn't talk long because he was headed out to his stepdaughter's wedding.

More at link: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6783966

 

[Peter Hamilton]

With the drilling of the 7th hole & absolutely no chance of even getting the robot down the hole it seems to be clear nothing more can be done.

I'm certain the families are devastated. But what more can be done? Nobody can go into that mine, its a death trap. The cousins & other family members know it would be suicide.

I understand the families wanting the remains for a proper burial, I sincerely do! They also wouldn't want anyone else to get trapped & have another funeral to attend. Nobody would want that to happen.

It is in peoples hearts to do any & everything you can to lift the burden of our loved ones. When my brother got 98% of his body burnt beyond 3rd degree burns. I offered to donate very large areas of my skin for skin grafting, I was 18 & would of done that in a heart beat. He passed away before that could happen. Today I know that would of been so painful, but I'd of done it, not a concern or worry about infections & never hesitating or thinking of myself first. Later my Mom told me she was thankful I never had to endure that pain & suffering.

--Cheko, I am so sorry your brother was burned and then passed away--sounds like a nightmare--may he Rest In Peace

 

[cheko1]

--Cheko, I am so sorry your brother was burned and then passed away--sounds like a nightmare--may he Rest In Peace

Thank you Peter Hamilton, it was!

 

[cheko1]

It must be simply horrible for the families to come to the realization no bodies may ever be brought up. My heart totally goes out to the 6 miners families & also the 3 who died trying to get to them. The miners who are still injured are in my prayers.

What a devastating ordeal for all involved! I sincerely hope Murray Energy will help the families of these poor miners. Does anyone know if they did?

 

[Kymistry35]

God bless those families. I cannot imagine the pain thet are feeling. I can only pray that the men passed quickly and did not and suffer.

 

[Earthbound Misfit I]

Hi cheko1,

I'm not aware that Murray Energy has done anything for the families. Also, I don't know if Murray Energy did try to do something for the families if it would be accepted. They may look at it as trying to be paid off?? I do believe in that in the end Murray Energy will be responsible for paying the families quite a bit of money.

I hope that all parties will be able to find peace and comfort. Such a terrible tragedy.

It must be simply horrible for the families to come to the realization no bodies may ever be brought up. My heart totally goes out to the 6 miners families & also the 3 who died trying to get to them. The miners who are still injured are in my prayers.

What a devastating ordeal for all involved! I sincerely hope Murray Energy will help the families of these poor miners. Does anyone know if they did?

 

[trixie]

Thank you Peter Hamilton, it was!

Bless your heart, so sorry for your loss cheko1.

 

[JanetElaine]

What a devastating ordeal for all involved! I sincerely hope Murray Energy will help the families of these poor miners. Does anyone know if they did?

Not that I've heard.....

Please also keep the ones that got hurt in the rescue effort in your thoughts/prayers. They are still trying to recover (I have no specific information other than that).