Rescuers Uncover Bodies of Cousins Killed in Mine Blast
DRENNEN, W.Va. — Rescue workers on Sunday uncovered the bodies of two cousins who were killed when lightning set off explosives at a strip coal mine, officials said.
The bodies were discovered under dirt, rocks and coal blown loose in Saturday’s explosion at the High Power Mountain Energy Corp. mine, said Mark Scott, director of the state Division of Mines and Materials.
Killed were Randall G. Roop, 35, of Drennen, a “shooter†who places explosive charges and detonates them, and his cousin, Michael E. Roop, 39, of Belva, a laborer.
About three dozen people were working at the mine west of Summersville when a sudden storm struck. Lightning probably set off some of the 17 charges that had been placed in the ground, officials said. None of the other workers was injured, Scott said.
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