MSHA: Exploratory teams reach working face of W.Va. coal mine where 29 died in April 5 blast

MSHA: Teams reach working face of W.Va. mine

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Exploratory teams have reached the heart of the West Virginia mine where 29 men died in the nation’s worst coal industry disaster in 40 years.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said, the teams were exploring along the longwall mining machine at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine shortly after noon Thursday. The machine slides a cutter back and forth across a seam to cut away chunks of coal.

The bodies of eight of the 29 men killed April 5 in an explosion at the southern West Virginia mine were found along the longwall face.

MSHA says teams haven’t found significant problems. They’re in the mine making sure it’s safe enough for federal and state investigators to search for clues to the explosion.