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Miners' families blast waning rescue efforts
Aug 20, 2007, 17:03 GMT
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Older Talkback
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IT seems to me that even if the miners had not survived attempts should still be made to retrieve there remains as quickly as possible. Furthermore an individual in such a situation as being trapped in a mine would likely not exhibit signs of life, despite being alive. Don't give up hope.
Attempts WERE made, and rescuers died in the process.
Attempts have been made but obviously not with the resources required for safety and success. I also believe that these miners should be found even if hope is lost that they may be alive. I am quite surprised at the 'cold shoulder' I'm seeing in this opinion that it's even an option to leave them there. If it were diamonds down there...
If it were me, I would grab a shovel and get my family member out dead or alive. Help me if you would like, otherwise, i'm digging.
How long should attempts be made, and how many more living miners should be sacrificed to recover the bodies of those already buried? At what point is the rescue moot?
I understand how the families must feel. And certainly nobody would say that the trapped miners don't deserve to be rescued. But the fact that oxygen levels indicate that they're most likely not alive, 3 rescuers have already died attempting to save them AND conditions remain unsafe... Should we sacrifice the lives of 10 people to POSSIBLY save 6?
I really like the ride or die attitudes of some and am kinda shocked that a lot of you agree with the suspension. I realize it might be dicey but as one put it if there were diamonds down there, they'd find a way to get to 'em. So, let's not give up hope.
You can put your shovels down. They're 1500ft below the surface entombed in rock, INSIDE A MOUNTAIN. 1500ft!!! Anyone who thinks they're pulling anything out of that hole other than a drill bit is out of their mind.
How can anyone have hope for those people? It's been how long now? And how much food and water is stored down there in case an event like this happens? And if there in fact is a storage area, what makes anyone think they would be able to reach it? It's agreed that they should still be reached, but it's rediculous to think that they're still alive.
I too am surprised at the comments that are so cold hearted toward the miners. These families have been waiting and waiting for days now, holding onto a shred of hope, so much has been done to keep them encouraged that they will be found. I'm afraid of the horrible letdown if they aren't found, or the horror of not knowing if their loved ones were left somewhere down there still alive if they quit now. Put yourself in that black hole and see how you would feel if you were waiting for someone to find you and they gave up. Let's have a little natural affection folks, think how others feel right now!!
Rest in Peace. It maybe too late to save but not to forget. I think we should sent a wreath and a plaque down for their honor. For both the attempted rescue and those original 6. You had brave lives let us not forget the courage today. God bless.
Its obvious that some of you have never used a shovel..
Most people (even some of the victims' family members) have NO IDEA what the conditions are like inside that mine. The mines in this area aren't like those back east where you can drill down through a few hundred feet of rolling hills and reach the miners. The mines in this area are underneath rugged mountain ranges - over 1,500 feet below the surface. The mountain is very unstable, especially now that there are miles of hollow caverns that have been mined out. It is continually shifting and settling down. It's not a matter of grabbing a shovel and going through a few hundred feet of dirt to reach the men. Without actually being inside the mine, it's difficult to grasp the complexity of the process and the instability created by it. The inside of that mine is like a house of cards and it came tumbling down.
I think everyone is forgetting an extremely important point....this mountain and mine are very active and constantly shifting for whatever reason and that is probably what caused the first cave-in. It also cost the lives of 3 other people. Even if this gigantic hole was bored into the shaft the chances of another cave-in are very, very real. The mine inspectors are doing their job the best the can.
The grief that is experienced by the miners' families is something no one can feel and their comments are completely justified. Grief takes over and a lot of reason goes out the window. My heart goes out to everyone and it is really sad there will not be a happier ending.
Folks who have worked in mines for generations live by a brotherly code of conduct where they look out for one another - and they and their families topside know that each day can end badly.
The rescuers will always try their best to save their brother miners - but the trapped miners wouldn't want the lives of their rescuers to be sacrificed.
What makes most sense is for rescue attempts which do not cost more lives. If such attempts cannot be made, then those caught in the bad situation must accept their fate.
The idea that the rescue attempts were made only half-heartedly because 'if it were to retrieve diamonds there would be more success' is an insult to all of the rescuers who risked their lives (and those that died).
The problem is: Why are humans being put into dangerous and unhealthy environments?
To risk human life in order to retrieve bodies which will only be buried a week later is illogical.
Why have they still not drilled where the miners where instructed to go if there was a problem? Which is in the deepest farthest back of the mine where it was deemed more structually stable.
This mine should not have been operating without that emergency escape route that they were penalized for not having in place. Apparently there needs to be a law that states that a coal mine cannot operate the day that they fail to meet safety inspections for the safety of employees. Anyone want to contact their federal officials and get the ball rolling on passing a law?
The human body can't survive that long without water I'm sorry to say. So, unless they found a small spring down there, they're gone. It's sad, but it's the truth. This should turn into a recovery effort so their families can bury the bodies. They shouldn't be left down there. But only if it's safe enough to send people down there to fetch them. There's no sense in more people dying over this. But what really concerns me is how unstable the mine seems to be. Perhaps they should just shut it down permanently, and let the family place their gravestones on top of it in order to have closure. I really don't see how they could continue mining it with how much it's moving around down there. Mother nature is trying to tell them something. Let the mine die with the miners so they can all be at peace.
Well they are in all likelihood dead. One cannot survive without food, water, oxygen or heat. Yes they will recover the bodies, it will take two to three months. If there was diamonds or gold down there, it would take two to three months to recover them also. They broke all the rules of safety and rushed to save supposed dying miners, three were killed in the process - end of rescue. Now with proper protocols and safe procedures they will extract the dead.
Organize for a more safe work environment....mine it union or dont mine it. With a union you have the right to stop the process if it isnt safe.
Old Utah miners soon well all be gone...with nothin' left behind but just some words on a stone.
'The idea that the rescue attempts were made only half-heartedly because 'if it were to retrieve diamonds there would be more success' is an insult to all of the rescuers who risked their lives (and those that died).'
It's offensive to read a specific accusation that I've insulted these heros and victims by suggesting that there be more resources put into this tragedy.
The idea that these 6 miners be left down in this mine and 'forever entombed' is an insult to humanity. There is a safe plan to get there. The financial cost may be high and it will take time.
'Insult to humanity' to leave the dead miners? People are dying to save the already dead, It would be an insult to ask people to continue dying in order to recover the bodies. At my age, I've seen too much death around me. Believe me, an insult to humanity is embalming a loved one instead of letting it go back to the earth to feed new life, or perhaps cremation. If it's not safe to go in there and get them out, then they shouldn't do it. People shouldn't die, especially fathers and husbands who are providing for their families, just so bones can be brought back to be put in a grave. It may be hard for extremely religious families to deal with, but where is their christianity when they ask the living to sacrifice their lives for this? Ask them to die so they can have a funeral? Asking people with families of their own to possibly commit suicide is very confusing to me, it's so selfish.
They are dead. If they were alive they would have been banging on metal objects since day one. If they were pinned down and couldn't get to metal objects, then they also couldn't get to water and they are dead. How selfish are the families that they want more people to risk their lives after some have already died. Outrageous! They are already buried, let them be.
This brings back memories of the Westray Mine Disaster. The mine 'was' located about a 3 hour drive from where I live. Many of the men are premenatly intombed in the rubble of the now defuncted mine. It seems since those images of the rescue efforts in Pennsylvania were beamed to our TV screens so long ago, people think that everyone will come out alive.
We had a bump in the town I live in about 15 years ago. I lost an Uncle and 13 friends. The mine was closed after that. True we all held out hope until they pulled the victims out, we all knew the chances of being able to hug them one last time would probably never happen.
What the public and the families now need to relise is this. Not only are they praying or greving for their loved ones, but 3 families are burying their own. Crushed doing what they do, saving others.
There is nothing on earth that would make me go down a mine, any mine. I don't like the idea of digging out the stuff that holds up the millions of tons of stuff above. I do however respect and admire people who do this. Especially those who risk (and lose) their lives in an attempt to rescue fellow miners. Everyone who goes down a mine knows and accepts the risks. They also know that if they become trapped (or killed) their fellow workers will stop at nothing to get them out reguardless of the risk. I feel it is the duty of all us non-miners to support these individuals in their efforts. Please keep up the effort but let's not add to the death toll. Forget the cost, it is only money. Get them out. We can put men on the moon. Let's get some out of a hole in the ground. My heart goes out to the friends and families of all involved.
I can't believe this:
All over the news: 6 miners trapped in a mine. Every day in the newspaper. Every day in the TV.
In china, 175 miners trapped in a flooded mine. Who knows about this?
With all due respect to the miners that lost their lives, our catastrophe is 3.4% as big as that which China is experiencing
ight now\.
Are Chinese miners more expendable that Utah miners?
Ask yourself this: why is that a catastrophe that is 30 times bigger than the one in Utah gets zero news coverage? Why aren't we concerned about that? Why is it not looked at least in proportion? why is it not compared?
Just a thought. I find it hard to believe.
I mourn for the lives lost of the 6+3 miners. I will mourn the lives if 175 ones that die in a flooded mine.
Life is neither kind nor forgiving, just indifferent. The facts are, the miners trapped in the cave-in are very likely dead and that attempting to recover the bodies to satisfy some survivors' unfathomable desire for a mysterious thing called closure, will most likely result in more deaths. These latter possible deaths are totally needless. If there is some religious need for an actual body to be found to guarantee passage to the fantasy paradise guaranteed to believers after death then let the believers risk their lives and gold.
Millions of people are able to lead quite normal lives knowing their loved ones are most likely dead without actually having seen a corpse.
Fortunately after the deaths of 3 would-be rescuers cooler heads have prevailed at least for now. It remains to be seen if the Whitehouse and pals will make another Terry Schiavo escapade out of the tragedy!
I'm no mining expert, but based on the depth of the mine, and the fact that the structure of the mine (and the ground above) was unsound, it appears unrealistic in the first place to have expected a different outcome. The really sad part is seeing more brave people give their lives in a rescue attempt.
The media has kept this story alive, well beyond the point where extraction of survivors would have been objectively seen as reasonable. The media now needs to explain the risks of such deep mining operations, so that those employed, and their families, understand those risks.
Perhaps the media dragged this out and created false hope.
I suspect those responsible for the recovery effort new from the beginning that they were not going to rescue these men, but they kept having press conferences. Even now that they have clearly given up, their statements still pus*yfoot around the truth.
'It's likely that these miners may not be found,' Utah Energy Corp vice president Rob Moore said Sunday.
'likely' 'may not'
Even after it has become obvious to all of us, they still don't have the stones to state with confidence that these men are dead.
call for bush .he will show them how to kill em
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