4 Killed, 9 Missing in Alabama Mine Blast

Four miners died and nine who rushed in to help were missing and feared dead after explosions rocked the nation’s deepest coal mine.

If the deaths of all 13 are confirmed, it would be the worst mining accident in the United States since 1984.

“These great acts of unselfishness are eerily reminiscent of the heroes of our Sept. 11 national tragedy,” said Don DeFosset, chief executive officer of Walter Industries, which owns the mine and its operator, Jim Walter Resources Inc. “These men gave their lives to help others.”

Three of the dead and the nine missing remained more than 2,000 feet underground at Blue Creek No. 5 mine, company officials said.

DeFosset said there was an explosion about 5:15 p.m. Sunday after a cave-in hit electrical equipment and ignited methane gas. At the time, 32 people were in the mine; six of them were in the area of the explosion. Three of the six escaped and were hospitalized in stable condition. The other three were left more than three miles from the main elevator, DeFosset said.

Ten miners went to rescue them, but something sparked a second, larger explosion about 45 minutes later, DeFosset said. One of the 10 miners who went in to rescue others was brought out but died at a hospital.

A second group of rescuers went into the mine and worked through the night but was unable to reach the area because of fires and methane gas, which is common in coal seams. Company officials said fires still burned Monday, and it was uncertain when a team would search again.

No. 5 is the deepest vertical shaft coal mine in North America, at 2,140 feet, the company says. It is known for high concentrations of methane gas.

“We’ve never had anything like this happen before,” said Linda Barger, the town clerk.