A search is currently taking place for a miner who disappeared following the flooding of several mines in West Virginia over the weekend, according to officials.
On Saturday afternoon, crews at the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County encountered flooded tunnels, as County Commissioner Garrett Cole noted in a statement.
While most miners were accounted for, one worker—whose name has not been disclosed—remains missing. Rescuers suspect he’s trapped roughly three-quarters of a mile underground.
Since 9:30 p.m. Saturday, rescue teams have been working to manage the water levels, but there’s still uncertainty about how much water remains in the mine, and when it might be cleared out, as reported by local sources.
The Nicholas County Department of Homeland Security has underwater drones at the ready, prepared to assist once conditions are safe for their deployment.
These drones are intended to navigate through the flooded mine and may help in locating the missing miner and facilitating communication.
Governor Patrick Morrissey mentioned that various state agencies are responding to the situation and that the rescue efforts are ongoing.
He stated that the West Virginia Department of Mine Worker Health, Safety, and Training is collaborating with mine safety officials, emergency management, and law enforcement to handle the situation.
More updates will be provided as new information arises.
This incident marks the second major mining accident in West Virginia recently, following the tragic death of a scoop operator in Tucker County earlier this month. Joey Mitchell Jr., a 25-year-old miner at Metiki Mine, lost his life in that event, which also left another worker injured, although further details on that incident weren’t provided.
