Mine Blast Kills 16, Traps 40
Associated Press
BORKEN, West Germany —
A powerful explosion in a coal mine today killed 16 miners, left about 40 trapped underground and critically injured eight on the surface.
Dense smoke engulfed the area after the mine near Borken, 70 miles northeast of Frankfurt, exploded at about 12:30 p.m., 30 minutes before the first shift was due to leave the pit. Borken Mayor Bernd Hessler later told a hastily called news conference that the bodies of 16 miners had been found and that the search was continuing for about 40 others.
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