US miners remain trapped despite rescue attempts

TEAMS of rescuers frantically cleared debris from underground tunnels yesterday, trying to reach six US coal miners trapped by a cave-in beneath more than 1,500 feet of solid rock.

In early morning darkness, workers in hard hats came and went along a road leading to the mine in a forested canyon among mountains.

“Right now I can’t say if it’s looking any better,” said one weary miner, Leland Lobato, as he ended an eight-hour shift.

“They’re doing what they can to keep everybody as fresh as possible so nobody gets tired.”

The trapped miners were believed to have been in a chamber more than 5km inside the Crandall Canyon mine near Huntington.

Rescuers were able to reach an area about 1,700 feet from that point before being blocked by debris.

Crews hope drill rigs can punch holes in the mine to improve ventilation.

This will also, they hope, help them determine if the miners survived yesterday’s collapse, said Robert Murray, chairman of Murray Energy Corporation of Cleveland, a part owner.