MONTCOAL, W.Va.,None — A Massey Energy executive said federal officials are testing air drawn from a hole drilled into a West Virginia mine where rescuers are trying to reach four missing miners.
Massey Vice President Mike Snelling said Wednesday that officials with the Mine Safety and Health Administration were testing air samples atop Montcoal Mountain.
VIDEO: 1-On-1 With W.Va. Gov. Manchin VIDEO: W.Va. Mine Rescue Efforts Continue VIDEO: Family Hopeful For Safe Return Of Missing Miner
Jama Jarrett, a spokeswoman for the state's mining agency, said rescue teams won't be allowed to return to the mine until methane gas levels drop out of the explosion range.
Federal officials ordered rescue crews out of Massey's Upper Big Branch mine early Tuesday morning when they measured dangerous methane levels.
Twenty-five miners were killed in the Monday explosion. Two remain hospitalized.
On Wednesday, Gov. Joe Manchin talked one on one with Channel 11 News, detailing how he's handling the latest tragedy in his state.
"All West Virginia families are the same. We've had too much experience (with mine tragedies)," Manchin said. "I understand the anxiety and sense of urgency and clinging to every shred of hope."
When asked how he has been handling the situation dealing with members waiting to hear the status of their loved ones, Manchin said he tries to update them as much as possible.
"Those family members are holding on. It's a very difficult time. You tell them the facts as you know. We try to go every couple of hours. A minute seems like an hour, an hour seems like a day when you're waiting," he said.
Manchin also said Massey Energy, the owner of the mine, is improving communication with families.
On Tuesday, families had complained that Massey wasn't keeping them informed.
"We have tried very hard from the beginning to be communicative with the families; but we realize since we don't know the information, we can't communicate it, but we have tried hard," said Massey CEO Don Blankenship.
Manchin also said Wednesday crews are going to drill a third hole at the mine in an attempt to release dangerous gases from underground.
He said the third hole needs to be drilled before any attempt can be made to rescue four missing miners.
Rescuers drilled the first hole into the coal mine but got no response from possible survivors when they banged on the drill pipe Wednesday to send a signal.
Manchin said the first hole reached the mine after boring through about 1,090 feet of earth and rock. Rescuers banged on the drill pipe for 15 minutes in hopes of being heard below ground.
"We did not get any response back," Manchin said at an early-morning briefing Wednesday.
Manchin said he continues to meet with the families but has no updates regarding the two injured miners pulled to the surface. The governor said the families are very resilient. But he added they also know "the odds are against us."
The cause of the blast is not known. But safety officials said the operation has a history of violations for not properly ventilating highly combustible methane gas.
One miner spoke Wednesday, saying he learned about the blast after the power went out on Monday. Melvin Lynch said he didn't feel or hear the explosion. But Lynch said the power went out and some of the miners left. Lynch said another crew told him they encountered flying debris and that's when he knew the situation was serious.
Lynch said he has been working in the mines for more than 10 years and he will return. He said that's the way he makes his living.
Previous Stories: April 7, 2010: W.Va. Gov: 3rd Hole Will Be Drilled In Rescue April 6, 2010: 25 Dead In W.Va. Mine Blast; Worst Since 1984
Previous Stories: April 6, 2010: 25 Dead In W.Va. Mine Blast; Worst Since 1984
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