Ben Hatfield
Ben Hatfield
The Sago Mine disaster was a coal mine explosion on January 2, 2006, at the Sago Mine in Sago, West Virginia, United States, near the Upshur County seat of Buckhannon. The blast and collapse trapped 13 miners for nearly two days; only one survived. It was the worst mining disaster in the United States since the Jim Walter Resources Mine Disaster in Alabama on September 23, 2001, and the worst disaster in West Virginia since the 1968 Farmington Mine Disaster...
anyone certainly damage feet good group hours knew looking people regret save trying
You have a group of people who have been on their feet for 30 to 40 hours trying to save lives. They were looking desperately for a good outcome. I don't think anyone knew how much damage was going to be created. I certainly regret that.
certainly confident employees explosion final highly joint knowledge pleased reach similar unusual word work
While our independent investigation is certainly not the final word on the explosion, we are confident that the joint federal-state investigation will reach a similar conclusion. We are pleased that we can get our Sago employees back to work with the knowledge that the explosion was an unpredictable and highly unusual accident.
again certainly hearts hoped outcome prayed prayers
This is certainly not the outcome that we had hoped for and prayed for. So again our hearts and prayers go out to the families.
best care certainly draw employees level meeting paid weekend
In the interim, certainly this week, they are being paid and we're meeting with the employees over the weekend to draw up longer-term plans. We're going to do our very level best to take care of our people.
certainly hopes stretched thin
Hopes certainly are stretched thin at this point.
results
We are very discouraged by the results of this test.
area breathing miners safe secure tried
These miners tried desperately to secure an area of safe breathing environment.
clinging families hope progress
Progress has been slow. Families are clinging to every hope of survival.
hot information kitchen parking people sharing talking
Everyone was talking about it in the parking lots, in the kitchen and everywhere. People that got the information were sharing it because that was the hot rumor.
initial location miners missing monday multiple remaining reports rough since turned
At that location they encountered a rough barricade structure. With 12 remaining miners that had been missing since the Monday explosion. Initial reports indicated multiple survivors, but that turned out to be a miscommunication.
caused wrong
We don't what went wrong and caused this explosion.
accident coal learn lessons protect
We must learn the lessons from this accident that will better protect coal miners.
continue determined hope information received remain search thus
While we're very disappointed by the information we have received thus far, we remain determined to continue the search so long as there is hope, and hope remains.
allowed good longer needed process trying
We needed good information, and we were trying to get them that information. In the process of being cautious, we allowed the jubilation to go on longer than it should have.