At approximately 3 pm today, an explosion at Massey subsidiary Performance Coal’s Upper Big Branch longwall mine in Montcoal, WV killed at least 12 miners. More miners are missing, and rescue teams are working through the night.
The West Virginia Gazette has the most up-to-date information available here at the moment.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the miners and their families tonight. Upper Big Branch is less than 15 minutes from our base camp in the Coal River Valley, and we too have friends with family who work there. We wish the best for the brave rescue crews that will be working through this terrible and tragic night.
Amen. We know you guys are up there always helping out any way you can. Love y’all.
Where is the outrage? Massey has pushed the limits to far once again. They have the know how to keep this from happening, it just takes to much $ from the BOTTOM LINE . Blankenship is an idiot(except on how to get out of trouble). He lies every time he opens his mouth and has no respect for anyone who wants to look into how they operate, unless its with the useless state and national inspectors. Everyone knew this was a high gas mine, but company greed sent these workers back to work.
I have a dear friend that still has three missing family members in that mine. She is pissed and so are many family members. I also have a student that her uncle is among the dead and this is Wednesday and her Aunt has yet to be contacted by any representative of Massey Coal Company. What kind of shit is that? Of course I’m not surprised one bit because many of us have been trying to tell people what kind of low life organization Massey is. They don’t follow the rules and safety is not their first priority. I’ve even heard through the grapevine that those men were told to cover the gas sensors in that mine. ??? Not sure if it’s true but it’s from a pretty reliable source. I know none of my anger will bring back one life lost and I constantly think about those families that have lost a loved one but hopefully this tragedy will open some eyes to the fact that sometimes a paycheck is not worth taking unnecessary risk with your life and unnecessary risk with our Earth. There comes a time when you have to admit that if you can’t do it without all the destruction then you just don’t do it.
Right now, is not the time and place to get on here and say what is being said. My heart goes out to those families and my heart breaks for the children that will have to go on through life without their father.
Can people please show some sense of morals about them and wait till this is all over with and then blast whomever or whatever.
I am sure your being told this and I am being told that but unless we are on the front lines, in the school or standing along the roadside to hear if first hand then why not keep our comments to ourselves? The families are suffering enough right now without the “others” myself included stating their two cents.
I am not here to argue nor am I heard to cause trouble, but don’t you think we as a whole should wait till after the last person is pulled out and the investigation is over to say what we need to say?
At times like these, politeness makes slaves.
Go ahead and hide your head in the sand. Massey has proven their lack of compassion over and over. I am sorry for all the families who are suffering through another Massey(Blankenship) nightmare. open your eyes, dont you know the “investigation” will blame the miners and maybe slap Masseys wrist. Look into their history. It is not too early! strike while the iron is hot !!!! As for a show of morals dont talk to me, talk to Massey and their morals.How long is this state going to accept this as the cost of doing business oh thats right they (politicians and their lackeys)are bought and paid for. We dont live in a fantasy. I AM PISSED OFF AT MASSEY AND BLANKENSHIP AND ALL THE FOLKS WHO WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT HOW MASSEY DOES BUSINESS AND ALL THE BODIES THEY KEEP PILING UP FOR THE SAKE OF THE ALMIGHTY BUCK….
Raychel, in this instance I agree with you completely. Massey’s safety violations and records will speak for themselves, and I think they do speak volumes. However, this is not the time for an attack and I would hope everyone involved in our work understands that now is not the time to grandstand on the issue. In these moments, while miners and their families are experiencing grief so strong and so overwhelming, our role is to support people in whatever way we can. There is great anger, of course there is. I am angry too. And yet, I hope that right now, that anger is channeled towards compassion, not for Massey, but for the workers, and the families of those who have lost their lives. I think it is impossible for us to forget, even for one instant, the shameful practices that caused this tragedy. No one is ignoring that, but for God’s sake, these people have not even come up from underground. There will be time for rage, there will be work that must be done, but for now the most important work that can be done is one of supporting each other in a time of tragedy.
I agree too annejane. We has as state need to ban together at this time and offer all the support and comfort as only as state can. We should be worried about the four missing miners, praying that they are found alive. Our people at the WV Coal Association has offered their condolance and that is all I can say. God Bless these miners, their families and the wonderful community of Whitesville….
Jim, I have seen Massey’s records, and if you read my comment earlier you would know that I am not hear to hold Massey in no way shape or form, I hate to see what has happened to these wonderful courageous men who went into the earth day after day to make a living for theirselfs and their families.
May God Bless And As I go to bed tonite I pray that the four men will be found they will be alive and if there is anything I can do to help out at this sad time I will do all I can.
No one ever thinks it’s the “appropriate time” to speak out against injustice. Just when is the “right time”. Once it’s too late and 29 lives are lost? If more people were proactive and not reactive maybe some of these horrible “accidents” could be prevented. Just like with the mountain top removal and now the big oil spill……….it’s not okay to be angry about any of this until lives are lost and our world completely destroyed past the point of no return. Sorry, I think now is the time to do something. I for one don’t want to be the person that thinks to himself in retrospect…..”man, wish I would have had the courage to stand up before all this happened”. So all you out there that continues to make excuses and justify mountain top removal and oil drilling and any other atrocity being committed against our Earth just remember…..some day it will be too late.
Em do you really want to start this again?
Have a little respect for these families instead of making this tradegy as a way to gain something for this sickening cause you all have on here!
I am so sorry these men lost their lives and I am so sorry that the oil spill has happened, just the same as you are, but don’t get on here and point your comments towards me which I know you did and expect me to not say anything at all.
I wish people had more compassion for these families, like oh wait was that Coach Huggins getting off that helicopter the next day this accident happen? Oh I believe it was, no he couldn’t have been him he doesn’t care anything for the state of WV or it’s, but oh wait let me get these rose colored glasses off to make sure, why folks it is Bob Huggins!
Show a little decenecy for God’s sake! Hey Em, I will be at the EPA ralley Tuesday evening in Charleston, could I offer you a cup of coffee or something?
Sorry folks I just had to add that comment about Coach Huggin’s on here. Go back to previous post to see what I am talking about to get up to date with the Coach Huggin’s comment if you want.