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Mining Accidents and Disasters

The death toll from the coal mine blast in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan rose Friday afternoon to 41, as rescuers tried to reach five trapped miners whose fates were unknown, according to the local government.

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Peru: Nine miners rescued after six days undergroundupdated: Wed Apr 11 2012 09:21:00

Nine Peruvian miners emerged into the daylight Wednesday morning after six days trapped in a collapsed mine.

Fresh cave-in complicates effort to rescue trapped miners in Peruupdated: Mon Apr 09 2012 05:26:00

A cave-in complicated work in southern Peru to rescue nine miners who have been trapped below ground for days, state media reported Sunday.

Nine feared dead in flooded Colombian coal mineupdated: Thu Mar 08 2012 12:59:00

Nine miners trapped in a flooded coal mine in northwest Colombia are feared dead, police said Thursday.

China mine explosion kills 19, dozens trapped updated: Thu Nov 10 2011 05:35:00

A gas leak triggered an underground explosion that killed 19 miners Thursday in southwest China, state media reported, the latest fatalities in the nation's dangerous coal industry.

Report: Central Chinese coal mine explosion kills 28, traps 1updated: Sat Oct 29 2011 21:16:00

One miner is trapped and 28 others are dead following a gas explosion at a central Chinese coal mine, state-run media reported Sunday, citing rescuers.

Two coal miners killed when surface mine wall collapsesupdated: Fri Oct 28 2011 15:52:00

Two miners died and several others were injured Friday when a wall collapsed at a Centertown, Kentucky, mine, the Ohio County sheriff said.

State media: China mine accident kills 17 updated: Wed Oct 05 2011 00:37:00

The death toll in a coal mine accident in southwestern China has risen to 17, state media reported Wednesday.

State media: China mine accident kills 16updated: Tue Oct 04 2011 14:35:00

The death toll in a coal mine accident in China's southwestern Guizhou province rose to 16 late Tuesday, after three more bodies were found, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Four miners trapped in Wales coal mineupdated: Thu Sep 15 2011 14:23:00

Four miners are trapped in a coal mine in Swansea Valley, South Wales, police confirmed Thursday.

Lifetime pensions awarded to 14 of the trapped Chilean minersupdated: Wed Aug 31 2011 13:10:00

Fourteen of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for more than three months after a mine collapse in northern Chile will get lifetime pensions.

19 miners rescued from flooded mine in China; 3 still missingupdated: Tue Aug 30 2011 03:53:00

Workers pulled to the surface 19 miners from a flooded mine in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province early Tuesday morning, bringing the total number of rescued miners to 22, state media said.

2010: Chilean miners rescuedupdated: Sun Jul 17 2011 09:00:00

The job is done, and 33 Chilean miners are safe with their loved ones. Take a look back at an unforgettable 24 hours.

Three dead, 42 trapped as heavy rains flood China minesupdated: Mon Jul 04 2011 04:05:00

Two separate incidents at coal mines in Southwest China over the weekend left at least three miners dead and 42 trapped, state media reported.

29 killed in West Virginia mine to be remembered 1 year after blastupdated: Tue Apr 05 2011 07:16:00

Acting West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will join the families of the 29 men who perished in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine a year ago Tuesday.

2010: Obama eulogizes W. Virginia minersupdated: Tue Apr 05 2011 07:16:00

President Obama delivers the eulogy at a memorial for the 29 miners that were killed in an explosion in West Virginia.

10 miners killed in Pakistan blastupdated: Sun Mar 20 2011 22:44:00

At least 10 miners were killed by a methane gas explosion in a coal mine in the southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan on Sunday, a government official told CNN.

West Virginia governor unveils new mine rescue truckupdated: Tue Mar 08 2011 13:45:00

The governor of West Virginia unveiled a new, specially equipped truck Tuesday designed to help rescue trapper miners -- part of that state's response to last year's Upper Big Branch Mine explosion, which resulted in 29 deaths.

29 trapped Chinese miners rescuedupdated: Mon Nov 22 2010 13:39:00

29 miners are rescued in China after more than a day in a flooded mine. CNN's Jaime FlorCruz reports.

29 trapped miners rescued in Chinaupdated: Mon Nov 22 2010 13:39:00

Twenty-nine miners trapped in a flooded mine in China were rescued after more than 30 hours, with crews lifting them out in rapid succession, state television reported Monday.

Rescuers rescuing 29 trapped miners in Chinaupdated: Mon Nov 22 2010 00:16:00

Twenty-nine miners trapped in a flooded mine in China were still alive after more than 24 hours, and rescuers were lifting them out, state media reported Monday.

Two miners killed in Chile blastupdated: Mon Nov 08 2010 21:07:00

Two miners were killed and a third was injured in a dynamite explosion at a copper and gold mine in Chile's Atacama Desert, not far from another mine where 33 miners were trapped for 69 days.

Two remaining miners trapped in Ecuador found deadupdated: Wed Oct 20 2010 23:49:00

The two remaining miners trapped underground in Ecuador since part of a mine collapsed last week have been found dead, the mine's president said Wednesday.

Rescuers in Ecuador say they are closing in on missing minersupdated: Tue Oct 19 2010 22:48:00

Rescue workers in Ecuador believe they are closing in on two of the four miners who were trapped underground after a part of a mine collapsed last week, the state news agency reported Tuesday.

Progress slows in the search for two trapped miners in Ecuadorupdated: Sun Oct 17 2010 19:23:00

Large rocks and wood blocks slowed the progress of rescue workers trying to reach the remaining two miners in southern Ecuador believed trapped underground, the state-run news agency reported Sunday.

Up from the mine, 52 years agoupdated: Fri Oct 15 2010 06:11:00

Fifty-two years ago, the survivors of the Springhill Mine Disaster in Nova Scotia revealed a few things to the world about the brutality of survival in the depths.

Miners' rescue among top Web eventsupdated: Thu Oct 14 2010 16:30:00

The rescue of Chile's trapped miners has become one of the most-watched Web events in recent memory, according to an internet monitor.

As they emerged: How each man spent his first moments above groundupdated: Wed Oct 13 2010 22:51:00

Some gave a thumbs-up, waved Chilean flags, and hugged their loved ones. One dropped to his knees and prayed, while another asked about his dog. One led the crowd in a cheer for Chile. And then they were all wheeled away on stretchers.

Psychological concerns for Chile minersupdated: Wed Oct 13 2010 12:43:00

CNN talks to author and professor George Bonanno on potential psychological concerns for the rescued Chilean miners.

Chile miners' rescue captures Chinese watchersupdated: Wed Oct 13 2010 10:53:00

As much of the world watched the dramatic rescue of trapped miners in Chile, some in China wondered whether their country would have gone to such lengths.

China has one of world's deadliest records for minersupdated: Wed Oct 13 2010 01:37:00

As much of the world watched the dramatic rescue of trapped miners in Chile, some in China wondered whether their country would have gone to such lengths.

President's schedule not a factor in Chile mine rescue, official saysupdated: Wed Oct 06 2010 08:27:00

Officials working to free 33 trapped miners in northern Chile denied Thursday they are under political orders to rescue the men ahead of President Sebastian Pinera's planned mid-month trip to Europe.

Miners could be reached by weekendupdated: Wed Oct 06 2010 08:27:00

CNN's Karl Penhaul reports that 33 trapped Chilean miners could be reached in a matter of days.

Drill passes halfway point in Chile mine rescue bidupdated: Thu Sep 30 2010 06:04:00

Piercing air horns sounded out Tuesday over the site where workers, drilling to reach 33 Chilean miners, passed the halfway point to the trapped men.

Celebration at the Chile mineupdated: Thu Sep 30 2010 06:04:00

A Chilean mine site celebrates as rescuers reach the halfway mark to the trapped miners. CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports.

Chilean miners on surface 'also trapped,' by company's financial woesupdated: Sun Sep 26 2010 07:22:00

It's 7:55 a.m. and miner Javier Avarca arrives in the early morning chill to the San Jose mine in Chile to begin a 12-hour shift.

A day in the life of trapped Chile minersupdated: Wed Sep 22 2010 11:32:00

As night breaks into day, the arc lights on three drilling rigs flicker off.

Chile's pres. speaks to trapped minersupdated: Mon Sep 20 2010 06:43:00

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera visits the rescue site where 33 miners remain trapped. CNN's Karl Penhaul reports.

Miners' families say Chile's president playing politics with rescueupdated: Mon Sep 20 2010 06:43:00

Some of the families camped outside the San Jose mine, waiting for rescuers to reach 33 workers trapped underground, fear Chilean President Sebastian Pinera may be playing politics with the rescue operation in an effort to boost his popularity.

Trapped miners a step closer to freedomupdated: Sun Sep 19 2010 00:56:00

33 trapped Chilean miners celebrated as a bore hole reached them, but the hole must be widened before they can be rescued.

Baby 'Hope' born to trapped minerupdated: Sat Sep 18 2010 12:08:00

CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports on the baby girl born to a trapped miner in Chile.

Miners buried for 30 days and countingupdated: Tue Sep 07 2010 18:23:00

CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports on the Chilean miners who have spent more than a month buried in a collapsed mine.

'Don't give up,' plane crash survivors tell trapped minersupdated: Sun Sep 05 2010 23:41:00

For months, the men waited in isolation, struggling to survive. They forced themselves to eat the flesh of dead friends to sustain themselves.

Chilean miners sing national anthemupdated: Mon Aug 30 2010 09:20:00

The 33 miners trapped in a mine in Chile sing their national anthem in a video message to their families.

Mine rescue marriage proposalupdated: Mon Aug 30 2010 09:17:00

One of Chile's 33 trapped miners has proposed to the woman he's been with for 25 years. CNN's Karl Penhaul reports.

Trapped Chilean miners talk with family membersupdated: Mon Aug 30 2010 01:01:00

The 33 Chilean miners who have been trapped underground for more than three weeks spoke directly with family members for the first time Sunday, as officials worked to keep the men's spirits and health in good shape.

Voices heard from collapsed mineupdated: Wed Aug 25 2010 07:06:00

CNN's Karl Penhaul has the latest on 33 miners trapped in Chile.

After 17 days, trapped Chilean miners send note they're aliveupdated: Sun Aug 22 2010 23:30:00

Thirty-three miners trapped underground in Chile sent a note on Sunday saying they are alive, raising hopes for the first time in the nearly three weeks since the mine collapsed, but officials cautioned it could take months to rescue the workers.

Two miners killed in Nevada mine accident identifiedupdated: Sat Aug 14 2010 22:11:00

Two miners who died this week in a Nevada mining accident were identified Saturday, according to the mine's owner.

Gold mine fire kills 14 workers in eastern Chinaupdated: Fri Aug 06 2010 21:36:00

Fourteen miners died and another 23 remained trapped in a gold mine where a fire broke out Friday evening in eastern China's Shandong province, the state-run news agency Xinhua reported Saturday.

30 killed, 13 trapped in separate Chinese mine incidentsupdated: Sun Jul 18 2010 09:53:00

Rescue crews on Sunday worked to retrieve the remains of 28 workers killed in a coal mine accident in northwest China, state media said.

46 workers killed in China mine blastupdated: Sun Jun 20 2010 23:59:00

An underground explosion in a coal mine in central China's Henan province killed at least 46 miners early Monday, state media reported.

17 killed in China mine explosionupdated: Sun May 30 2010 03:55:00

Chinese officials were investigating Sunday a coal mine blast that killed 17 miners in central Hunan province, state media said.

Turkish miners remain trappedupdated: Wed May 19 2010 15:31:00

The desperate effort to save 30 miners who have been trapped in a northern Turkish coal mine suffered a setback Wednesday, when officials announced that rescue workers had encountered rubble separating them from the victims.

Crews rush to rescue trapped coal minersupdated: Tue May 18 2010 07:46:00

Hundreds of rescue workers are racing to reach 30 miners, who have spent the last 24 hours trapped underground after an explosion rocked a coal mine in northern Turkey on Monday.

President Obama speaks about mine safetyupdated: Thu Apr 15 2010 14:54:00

President Obama orders a review of mines with poor safety records after last week's fatal mine explosion.

Sago investigator will look at West Virginia mine disasterupdated: Tue Apr 13 2010 20:46:00

West Virginia's governor on Tuesday named a former head of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration to lead a state investigation into last week's coal mine explosion that left 29 miners dead.

West Virginia mine being reventilated so bodies can be recoveredupdated: Sun Apr 11 2010 16:32:00

Efforts were under way Sunday to reventilate a sprawling West Virginia coal mine so crews can recover the bodies of 22 miners who died in an explosion Monday, authorities said. Seven bodies were removed soon after the blast.

Obama urges probe into mine disaster after last bodies foundupdated: Sun Apr 11 2010 11:37:00

President Obama on Saturday urged a thorough investigation into a deadly explosion at a West Virginia coal mine that killed 29 people, hours after rescue efforts at the mine gave way to an operation to recover the dead.

Mining disaster raises questions about effectiveness of safety lawsupdated: Fri Apr 09 2010 06:19:00

Two West Virginia mining accidents within 17 days in January 2006 killed 14 people and prompted Congress to pass the most sweeping mine safety legislation in 29 years.

More air testing neededupdated: Fri Apr 09 2010 06:19:00

Air inside a West Virginia coal mine remains too dangerous for rescue crews to enter where four miners may be trapped.

'Miracle' mine rescue in Chinaupdated: Thu Apr 08 2010 06:30:00

Dozens of people were pulled out alive from a Chinese mine, more than a week after the mine was flooded.

China: Death toll in flooded mine now at 12updated: Thu Apr 08 2010 06:30:00

The death toll in a flooded mine in northern China has risen to 12, and crews were working to rescue 26 miners who remain trapped, state media reported on Thursday.

Mine accidents in the United Statesupdated: Tue Apr 06 2010 14:29:00

An explosion at the Massey Energy Co. mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, killed at least 25 miners. The cause of the explosion had not been determined as rescuers worked Tuesday to bore ventilation holes into the Upper Big Branch Mine. This is a chronological list of notable coal mine accidents in the United States over the last century. The list is not all-inclusive. * December 6, 1907 -- Worst coal mine disaster in U.S. history: 362 miners are killed in an explosion at the Monongah Nos. 6 and 8 Coal Mines in Monongah, West Virginia.

Rescuers enter flooded mine in Chinaupdated: Sat Apr 03 2010 04:55:00

Rescue teams entered a flooded mine in northern China on Saturday to help 153 workers trapped for almost a week, state-run media reported.

Coal mine fire traps 12 in Chinaupdated: Fri Jan 08 2010 22:40:00

Two emergency teams worked Saturday to rescue 12 miners trapped inside a coal mine that caught fire in east China's Jiangxi Province, local officials told the state-run Xinhua news agency.

Mine accident kills 26 in Chinaupdated: Fri Oct 09 2009 00:09:00

Twenty-six people were killed in a mine accident in central China's Hunan Province, state-run China Daily reported.

5 dead, 30 feared trapped in Indonesia mine explosionupdated: Tue Jun 16 2009 06:23:00

A mine collapse -- triggered by a methane explosion -- killed at least five people and injured nine Tuesday on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, officials said.

56 dead in 2 mining accidents in Chinaupdated: Mon Sep 22 2008 04:24:00

At least 56 people have been killed in two mine disasters in China this weekend.

Mine collapse in China kills 21updated: Sun Jul 06 2008 23:21:00

A coal mine collapse in northeastern China killed at least 21 miners, the second fatal incident in less than a week, state-run media reported.

Swedish miners trapped after fireupdated: Thu Jul 03 2008 14:27:00

An official says eight miners are trapped in a mine in northern Sweden after a fire.

Mine collapse in China kills 18updated: Wed Jul 02 2008 00:18:00

At least 18 miners have been killed in a mine collapse in northwestern China, state-run media reported Wednesday.

27 dead in China mine explosionupdated: Sat Jun 14 2008 03:44:00

Twenty-seven miners were killed Saturday in a mine explosion in Xiaoyi, China.

Mine rescue continuesupdated: Tue Jun 10 2008 11:20:00

Rescuers in Ukraine attempt to free more than a dozen coal miners who became trapped after a gas explosion. (No audio)

China mine blast death toll climbsupdated: Fri Dec 07 2007 05:55:00

Rescue teams on Friday recovered more bodies following a powerful gas explosion at the Xinyao Coal Mine in northern China's Shanxi province, bringing the death toll 105, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency.

Death toll rises in mine blastupdated: Fri Dec 07 2007 05:55:00

Rescue work continued as the number of dead in a massive gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China continues to rise.

Mine explosion kills 46 in China updated: Thu Dec 06 2007 04:46:00

A powerful gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China's Shanxi province killed at least 46 people and left at least 50 others trapped early Thursday, local safety officials said, according to China's Xinhua news agency.

Australian miners rescuedupdated: Mon Nov 19 2007 03:09:00

All 27 miners were rescued five hours after a landslide blocked the main entrance. No one was seriously hurt.

Colombia mine accidentupdated: Sun Oct 14 2007 15:34:00

A landslide at a makeshift mine in southern Colombia kills at least 21 people and injures more than 20 others.

Gold mine rescueupdated: Thu Oct 04 2007 16:54:00

CNN's Robyn Curnow reports workers trapped for more than a day underground are excited to return to the surface.

News media sue to open probe into Utah mine disasterupdated: Tue Oct 02 2007 13:44:00

A coalition of news media organizations has filed suit in an effort to get the government investigation into the Crandall Canyon mine accident opened to the public.

New bore hole drilled at Utah mine finds no sign of lifeupdated: Sat Aug 25 2007 22:45:00

A sixth bore hole drilled into a space where six Utah miners were thought to be trapped found that the chamber contained no space where the men could have survived, an attorney representing some of the miners' families told CNN.

Time.com: Lawmakers Probe Utah Mine Accidentupdated: Fri Aug 24 2007 10:50:00

Lawmakers in Washington announced twin probes into safety at the Utah mine where six miners were trapped and three rescuers were killed

Crews prepare for final rescue effort at Utah mineupdated: Thu Aug 23 2007 21:03:00

Rescuers trying to find six miners will begin boring a sixth hole down into Utah's Crandall Canyon mine Friday, and the search will stop if no signs of life are found, the coal mine's co-owner said.

Utah mine families speak outupdated: Wed Aug 22 2007 07:43:00

Utah mine families speak out

Grief turns to angerupdated: Wed Aug 22 2007 04:45:00

Grief turns to anger

China: Flooded mine was 'natural disaster'updated: Wed Aug 22 2007 04:45:00

A Chinese Cabinet minister sought Wednesday to portray a mining accident that left 181 miners trapped and presumed dead as a natural disaster, deflecting criticism that more could have been done to save the workers.

Families of trapped miners question safety of Utah mineupdated: Tue Aug 21 2007 22:19:00

With six trapped coal miners all but left for dead in a crumbling mountain, families and friends vented their frustration at the mine's owner Tuesday and asked: Was it too dangerous to be working there in the first place?

Mine too unstable to keep digging, experts sayupdated: Tue Aug 21 2007 08:51:00

A panel of experts said the Crandall Canyon coal mine is so unstable that it would be "unacceptable" to resume digging through it to save six trapped miners.

Miners trapped in Chinaupdated: Mon Aug 20 2007 04:53:00

Miners trapped in China

China silent on miners' fateupdated: Mon Aug 20 2007 04:53:00

Distressed family members shouted and scuffled with guards after a third day without word on 172 miners trapped in a flooded mine in eastern China, where rescue crews began pumping water Sunday.

Rescuers pump flooded minesupdated: Sun Aug 19 2007 08:36:00

Rescuers raced Saturday to pump water out of two coal mines flooded by a rain-swollen river in eastern China, where 181 miners were missing and feared dead.

Hopes dim for Chinese minersupdated: Sun Aug 19 2007 07:19:00

More than 180 trapped miners in China have slim hopes of survival as the shafts they were working in are almost completely filled with the raging waters from a broken levee.

Unknown noises from mine shift drilling planupdated: Thu Aug 16 2007 08:11:00

Rescue workers said they detected a noise Wednesday night -- though it's unclear what it was -- deep inside the Utah mine where six men have been trapped for nine days.

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