posted
I am not sure if there has been another thread about this. I did a search, but didn't get any hits.
Several sources are reporting that twelve of the thirteen miners missing in the West Virginia mine collapse have been found alive and have been rescued. Good news.
Unfortunately, the thirteenth man was found dead earlier in the day. He may have been close to the explosion according to some reports.
posted
Oh, this is wonderful. I've been following this story since yesterday, and was so sad when they said it wasnt likely anyone would be found alive because of the high carbon monoxide levels.
Posts: 499 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Now, they [CNN] are reporting that only one of the miners may have survived and that the others may be dead. Darn media. Then again, it is probably a controlled chaos there. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
posted
I went to bed last night thinking they found twelve of them and then I wake up this morning to this. Cheap trick.
Posts: 959 | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
BBC reported this morning on the radio that what is being presumed to have happened is that a rescue worker radioed that 12 of the miners were found (note: no status) which was interpreted by one of the locals who overheard the report to mean 12 survivors. This local then ran into the church where the community was holding vigil with the families and shouted out the "miraculous news." This caused a huge uproar of joy and the news then spread like wildfire with no one in any official position being able to confirm the news, but it was nonetheless being reported as true by the media (the uproar in the church apparently being the "source"). The truth wasn't known for 3 1/2 hours. By then the locals were outraged and tried to attack the media. A SWAT team from a neiboring town had to be called in to restore peace.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
What an emotional whipsaw for those poor families! I can't imagine what it must be like to go through that vigil, get your hopes up that they survived, then find out the bitter truth.
The governor was misinformed as well. I wonder who told him?
What's weird is, the Globe and Mail website has an incorrect "miners found alive!" story posted one hour ago, while the correct story was posted 2 hours on their site.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
BBC reported that the governor was in a side room in the church meeting with some family members of some of the missing when the uproar went up in the main hall. He was reported to have asked his aides, "Can we confirm this?" repeatedly and tried to track down official confirmation during the time the false reports were being made and the truth was found out.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Ahh, thanks Karl, I hadn't read that the gov was at the church. Good for him for looking for confirmation of the story.
Posts: 6316 | Registered: Jun 2003
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Few people appreciate the difficulty in getting accurate information in a crisis. I'm guessing the governor has experience with this phenomenon and was desperately trying to stave off exactly what happened.
What happened makes an already horrible situation tha much worse. Rescuers usually worry more about rescuing than operational security, with good reason, but this is a good example of why emergency personnel are usually reluctant to release information. Maybe people will be a little more patient with emergency personnel the next time a situation like this develops. As frustrating as it is to not have questions answered before formal confirmation can occur, it's better than something like this happening.
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I can't imagine what it must be like to go through that vigil, get your hopes up that they survived, then find out the bitter truth. 
