Crews begin recovering bodies of victims from nation’s worst coal mining disaster in 40 years

Crews begin recovering bodies from W.Va. mine

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mine crews have started the solemn task of bringing the victims of this week’s underground coal mine explosion to the surface.

West Virginia Medical Examiner’s spokesman John Law says several bodies were received Saturday.

He did not know when the remaining victims will be transported from Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine to Charleston.

Twenty-nine miners were killed and two injured last Monday in the nation’s worst coal mining disaster in 40 years. Seven were pulled from the mine immediately after the blast.

One miner remains hospitalized.

Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Amy Louviere says the investigation into the cause of the blast started Saturday with the collection of material from the mine.

She says a team of investigators will arrive in West Virginia on Monday.