Miners' families blast waning rescue efforts
US News
Aug 20, 2007, 17:03 GMT
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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.
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