[Miss Marple]

At a mine located in Somerset, Pennsylvania (western PA) a mining crew in an underground mine broke through to an abandoned mine filled with water. The walls collapsed, trapping the miners underground with the water rising.

There are nine men trapped. They were still believed alive yesterday afternoon, because tapping was heard on the casement of the drill hole that was drilled to get them air.

In order to effect a rescue, they must drill straight down from the surface, a distance of 300 feet. Special equipment was brought in from West Virginia yesterday, a huge drill with a 30-inch augur. Unfortunately, the bit broke when they had drilled about 100 feet. The replacement is not on site, so they are waiting to get that delivered. The water temperature is 55 degrees, increasing the danger of death by hypothermia.

This is one of the reasons I am glad my husband is out of mining. Although he loved it, every day that he left for work I worried about something like this. Underground mine managers walk the mines...they do not sit on the surface giving orders. Prayers for all those men and their families.

[JRandomFreeper]

Prayers lifted for those trapped. That's very scary work. Thanks for the information.

/john

[lysie]

Since drilling is Hubby's line of work.(26 years at it), I'm going to ask him how he gets out broken bits. I know he has a technique other drillers don't use and they have often times asked for his help. Usually a piece of equipment is lowered and screwed onto the the broken bit. It's after that point he does a little something different.