The lone survivor of a US coal mine explosion that killed 12 showed some encouraging signs overnight, but had not woken and was in a coma, doctors said today.

With their escape routes blocked by heavy smoke, most of the 13 miners caught in an explosion did what they were trained to do.

JOY gave way to grief and anger yesterday when a West Virginia coal town learned that 12 of 13 miners trapped in a mine explosion had died.