I feel there is no hope for those miners. I've been in mines that use the type of collapsed ceiling method to extract the coal.
It allows the removal of a lot more coal from the seam as the columns used to support the roof are chewed away as the face of the seam retreats.
If that big WHUMP was the ceiling going down - big enough to simulate an earthquake, I'm afraid the supporting columns that they were relying upon failed.
I HOPE that these fellows will have survived somehow, but my gut says they ahve not and their bodies will never be recovered, either - way to much material to be removed.
(Stop in Helper and check out the outdoor mining mueseum.)
The owner of the mine was on Fox News. He denied they are using the collapsed ceiling method. He said Union officials were wildly speculating (in an effort to unionize the mines in Utah) and the MSM ran with the story. There is plenty of hope for those miners.
I fear for them as well. I’ll be going back up there tommorow afternoon for another 4 days. It will be a long time before they get them out. The families are going through hell right now.
The helper museum is very cool, have been there a few times. Thanks.