Mourners pray for 4 missing miners in W.Va. while remembering 25 victims of mine explosion

Mourners pray for victims of W.Va. mine explosion

WHITESVILLE, W.Va. — About 50 mourners are at a small West Virginia church a few miles from the site of a deadly mine explosion to remember the 25 victims and pray for four missing miners.

Bishop Michael J. Bransfield called on congregants Tuesday to pray that the mine’s condition will improve so a team of rescuers can search for the miners. They went missing after a huge underground explosion killed 25 of their colleagues.

Bransfield urged congregants to call for more safety measures to protect miners in the future.

The bishop says West Virginia miners put their lives at risk every day.