25 confirmed dead in mining accident

This is so sad and so infuritating. This company has a poor safety record. Who knows how many of these 25 people would be alive today if this company cared as much about its workers as it does about making money. Four people are still alive, but their prospects are poor. My heart goes out to these families.

Search for miners after deadly blast could take days

Montcoal, West Virginia (CNN) -- It could take up to two days to drill bore holes into a sprawling West Virginia coal mine, scene of a massive blast that left at least 25 miners dead, a mining official said Tuesday.

Bulldozers will be used to clear a path through the hills and bring in equipment to reach the affected part of the Upper Big Branch Mine, Kevin Stricklin of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said.

The holes will be drilled 1,200 feet down to help ventilate the mine and collect samples. Rescue crews early Tuesday halted their efforts to reach four miners still unaccounted for, as concentrations of methane and carbon monoxide posed a safety risk, Stricklin said.