In a stunning and heartbreaking reversal, the Associated Press reported early Wednesday that 12 of 13 trapped coal miners were dead — three hours after the families began to celebrate an early report that 12 of the miners were were alive.
The sole survivor, Randal McCloy, was in critical condition at last report but reportedly showing no sign of carbon monoxide poisoning after having been trapped for 1 1/2 days. At last report, he was unconscious but making noises, and still on a ventilator.
All the families can use your prayers.
This is incredibly macabre news. There seems to have been quite a few underlying problems, with this mine and the industry as a whole that caused this incident.
The greater tragedy is that we still rely on an incredibly dirty fossil fuel to power our lives, when nuclear is both safer and renewable if used properly.
You can find all my reasons for preferring nuclear, as well as commentary about the Chinese coal situation (6500 deaths per year) at Earth Sentinel where you will also find peak oil, renewable energy, and climate change news.
Posted by: Earth Sentinel | January 04, 2006 at 12:31 PM