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Rescue efforts in second mine disaster

| 01.20.2006 | 10:11:403830 |
January 20: Rescue efforts are underway in West Virginia where miners working in shafts deep below the earth's surface have been forced to evacuate because of dangerous conditions. Earlier this month 12 miners died at the International Coal Group's Sago mine when an explosion sent harmful fumes and fire into the tunnels. On Friday, West Virginia officials said rescue efforts to find two miners not able to evacuate the mine are underway but that teams looking for the men have had to hault their search because of intense fire and carbon monoxide fumes, MSNBC reported.
The cable news channel was told by Mine Safety and Health Administration spokesman Jesse Cole that listening equipment would be used to help locate the men who are more than 10,000 feet below the surface. In the mine there are more than six miles of tunnels.

The mine, called the Alma mine, has received 95 safety citations in the past year, MSNBC found. "The most recent were issued on Dec. 20 when the mine was cited with seven violations ranging from controlling coal dust and other combustible materials to its ventilation plan."

CNN reported the Aracoma Alma Mine No. 1 is owned by the Massey Energy Company and is located about 60 miles southwest of Charleston, West Virginia.

"The fire apparently began on a mechanical belt," CNN reported. "Ten miners encountered smoke but safely exited to safety about two hours later, only to find their two colleagues were missing."