Rescuers search for trapped miner in flooded West Virginia coal mine for third day
Efforts continue for a third day to find a missing miner at the Rolling Thunder Mine, about 50 miles east of Charleston, after the site flooded over the weekend.
At a press conference Monday, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said that dive teams are searching for pockets of air where the miner may be located.
"This has been an around-the-clock response since Saturday, and we're going to continue to do everything imaginable to help," said Gov. Morrisey. "We're going to continue to push because we want to make sure that we give the miner every opportunity to live."
The identity of the miner has not been publicly released.
Nicholas County Commissioner Garrett Cole posted a statement on Facebook Sunday night, saying that the missing miner was helping his crew escape to safety.
"According to state wide reporting, the missing miner is said to be a foreman of a crew who worked to ensure that everyone on his crew was getting out of the mine but got trapped behind," the statement read, in part.
"It was stated to me that the air and water is approximately 52-54 degrees, which means the miner would be less likely to suffer hypothermia, but would more be tasked in trying to become dry and keep in an open air pocket of the mine," Cole added.
Rolling Thunder Mine is operated by Tennessee-based Alpha Metallurgical Resources, which operates 19 underground and surfaces mines across West Virginia and Virginia, according to their website.
Alpha Metallurgical Resources did not immediately respond to an ABC News request for comment.
The weekend incident at Rolling Thunder Mine is the second mining misfortune in West Virginia this month, following the death of a miner on Thursday, according to Gov. Morrisey.
"I'm deeply saddened to learn of the death of one of our brave coal miners, Joey Mitchell Jr. Joey tragically passed away following an accident at the Mettiki Mine in Mount Storm. All West Virginians should keep Joey’s family, friends, and fellow miners in our thoughts and prayers," Gov. Morrisey posted on Facebook.
"Our coal miners are among the hardest-working and most courageous people in our state. They represent the strength, humility, and resolve that define West Virginia. We owe these men and women an enduring debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they make every day to power our communities and our nation," Morrisey added.
