Racing against time and rising water, rescue teams in southwestern Pennsylvania on Thursday worked to free a crew of nine coal miners trapped several hundred feet underground after a water-filled mine collapsed on them, officials said.
Officials have not been able to establish communication with the miners, trapped underground since Wednesday night. Rescue teams drilled air holes into areas of the mine where they believe the men are located.
Officials said the miners are crammed in an area inside Quecreek Mine about 3-feet-high by 12-feet-wide, located about 300 feet beneath the surface.
"It's possible that there's quite a bit of air down there," Pennsylvania State Trooper David Holtzman said. "They really don't know what's going on underground right now, that's what they're trying to find out."
About 9 p.m. Wednesday, the miners accidentally hit an older mine filled with water, which caused the area to collapse and flood, Holtzman said.
They were able to alert another crew of nine miners behind them, who safely evacuated.
The mine collapsed about 8,000 feet from its entrance and is located about six miles north of Somerset.
A deep mine rescue team was called in from Indiana, Pennsylvania, according to Ron Gindlesperger Jr. with the Somerset County 911 center.
I am a terrible clausterphobic. This would be my worst fear next to drowning. I'm feeling ill just imagining it. I'm hoping and praying for a miricle ending to this story.
Officials have not been able to establish communication with the miners, trapped underground since Wednesday night. Rescue teams drilled air holes into areas of the mine where they believe the men are located.
Officials said the miners are crammed in an area inside Quecreek Mine about 3-feet-high by 12-feet-wide, located about 300 feet beneath the surface.
"It's possible that there's quite a bit of air down there," Pennsylvania State Trooper David Holtzman said. "They really don't know what's going on underground right now, that's what they're trying to find out."
About 9 p.m. Wednesday, the miners accidentally hit an older mine filled with water, which caused the area to collapse and flood, Holtzman said.
They were able to alert another crew of nine miners behind them, who safely evacuated.
The mine collapsed about 8,000 feet from its entrance and is located about six miles north of Somerset.
A deep mine rescue team was called in from Indiana, Pennsylvania, according to Ron Gindlesperger Jr. with the Somerset County 911 center.
I am a terrible clausterphobic. This would be my worst fear next to drowning. I'm feeling ill just imagining it. I'm hoping and praying for a miricle ending to this story.
