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Team coverageA mine collapse that registered as a 3.9 magnitude earthquake and killed six miners last summer occurred so quickly that it probably eliminated any chance for the men to escape, a new study says.
The report released by the University of Utah reveals the collapse was also much larger than federal investigators first thought.
Dr. Jim Pechmann, University of Utah Seismologist said the August 6, 2007 collapse stretched 50 acres! That is four times larger than previously thought.
Pechmann said, "The collapse started close to the edge of where pillars had been removed in July and early August, and close to the area where the miners were working at the time ... The coal exploded sideways from the pillars that were holding up the roof and filled much, if not all, of the tunnels with debris."
In the days following the collapse, mine owner Bob Murray insisted, "Our active mining did not cause an earthquake a mile away."
Colin King, attorney for miners' families, said, "This data nails down that, that's absolute nonsense."
"We're confident that the magnitude 3.9 event was the collapse itself," Pechmann said.
At least for the six trapped miners, it happened in mere seconds. King said, "Perhaps it may give them some feeling that they didn't suffer as long as they feared."
King added, "What happened here was clearly retreat mining way beyond the bounds of safety, and it was clearly for profits -- profits ahead of people."
KSL was unable to reach Bob Murray's attorney for comment.
Following the disaster, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration launched an investigation into what happened. Utah also formed an Office of Coal Mine Safety.
To view the entire report, click on the related link.
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
E-mail: gkennedy@ksl.com
(The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
