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Wider hole drilled into Utah mine Setback for Utah rescue mission
(10 minutes later)
Rescuers in the US state of Utah have drilled a second, wider hole into a mine cavity where six coal miners are believed trapped. A camera lowered into a mine cavity where six Utah miners are believed trapped has detected no signs of life.
The rescue team is lowering a video camera into the 9in-wide (23cm) hole, to check for signs of life. However, a US mine safety expert said the images did reveal a "survivable" chamber, with the roof intact and drinkable water on the floor.
Tests carried out after a smaller hole was drilled into the mountain showed no sounds of human activity and only low levels of oxygen. But dirt on the lens obscured the view, and a steel lining must now be inserted into the bore hole before the camera is redeployed later on Saturday.
No contact has been made with the men since a tunnel collapsed on Monday.No contact has been made with the men since a tunnel collapsed on Monday.
Mine officials are refusing to give up hope of finding the men alive, saying they may have moved to another area. Rescuers drilled a 9in-wide (23cm) hole into a cavity at the Crandall Canyon mine early on Saturday, allowing them to lower in a high-resolution camera to check for signs of life.
"It's always been a rescue mission," said Bob Murray, head of Murray Energy Corporation which co-owns the mine.
"It's coming all out in accordance with our plans, but it's just too slow," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
Utah mine layout and location Utah mine layout and location
The miners are trapped 1,500ft (457m) underground and about 3.4 miles (5.5km) from the entrance to Crandall Canyon coal mine, near the town of Huntington, 140 miles (225km) from Salt Lake City. "The good news is that we do have evidence of a 5.5ft-deep cavern... We found a survivable space," said Mine Health and Safety Administration chief, Richard Stickler.
On Friday night, about 300 people held a candle-lit vigil for the missing men, who include three Mexicans. However, rescuers said they were "disappointed" that no-one had responded to repeated tapping signals.
Rescue teams have been drilling through a mountain above the mine to reach the men
Air testsAir tests
A 2.5-inch (6.4cm) drill pierced through the cavity on Thursday night, allowing a microphone to be lowered and air tests to be carried out. It is hoped the re-inserted camera will be able to scan 100ft (30m) in each direction, providing a clearer idea of conditions.
CRANDALL CANYON MINE Located in Manti-La Sal National Forest, 16 miles (25km) from HuntingtonUses the "retreat mining" method, which experts say is one of most dangerous Coal pillars hold up area of mine's roof. When completely mined, pillars are pulled, causing intentional roof collapse class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6940032.stm">In pictures: Mine rescue Initial readings showed oxygen levels were good, but they were in fact taken from the bore hole and not the mine, said Mr Murray. Mine officials are refusing to give up hope of finding the men alive, saying they may have moved to another area.
Oxygen levels in the cavity were only about 7%, which is not enough to support human life. There was also no sign of carbon dioxide to indicate that people were exhaling. CRANDALL CANYON MINE Located in Manti-La Sal National Forest, 16 miles (25km) from HuntingtonUses the "retreat mining" method, which experts say is one of most dangerous Coal pillars hold up area of mine's roof. When completely mined, pillars are pulled, causing intentional roof collapse class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6940032.stm">In pictures: Mine rescue
The wider hole would allow food and water to be passed into the cavity. "It's always been a rescue mission... but it's just too slow," said Bob Murray, head of Murray Energy Corporation which co-owns the mine.
Mr Murray said on Friday that it could take at least another four or five days to bring the men out. The miners were trapped 1,500ft (457m) underground and about 3.4 miles (5.5km) from the entrance to the mine, near the town of Huntington, 140 miles (225km) from Salt Lake City.
Tests carried out after a smaller hole was drilled into the mountain late on Thursday showed no sounds of human activity and levels of oxygen insufficient to support human life.
Rescuers have drilled two holes through the mountain above the mineInitially the collapse was blamed on an earthquake, but experts have since suggested the shafts might have caved in with enough force to register on seismographs.Rescuers have drilled two holes through the mountain above the mineInitially the collapse was blamed on an earthquake, but experts have since suggested the shafts might have caved in with enough force to register on seismographs.
This has led to speculation that mining procedures could have triggered the incident.This has led to speculation that mining procedures could have triggered the incident.
It has been claimed the workers were using a risky technique known as "retreat mining", where the last standing pillars of coal are pulled down and the roof is allowed to fall in.It has been claimed the workers were using a risky technique known as "retreat mining", where the last standing pillars of coal are pulled down and the roof is allowed to fall in.
But Mr Murray has rejected that, insisting that an earthquake caused the collapse and that the mine was run safely.But Mr Murray has rejected that, insisting that an earthquake caused the collapse and that the mine was run safely.
US federal mining inspectors have issued 325 citations for alleged safety violations at the mine since January 2004. Of those, 116 were considered "significant and substantial" and likely to cause injury.US federal mining inspectors have issued 325 citations for alleged safety violations at the mine since January 2004. Of those, 116 were considered "significant and substantial" and likely to cause injury.
However, some experts have said the number of citations is not unusual.However, some experts have said the number of citations is not unusual.
Three construction workers died in a mine accident in southern Indiana on Friday.
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Are you in the area of the Crandall Canyon mine? Do you work at or have connections with the mine? Send us your details using the form below.Are you in the area of the Crandall Canyon mine? Do you work at or have connections with the mine? Send us your details using the form below.
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