On Saturday, November 8, coal miners at the Rolling Thunder mine struck an unexpected pocket of water, which inundated the mine and prompted an emergency evacuation. Several miners made it out safely, but one miner, Steven Lipscomb never exited the mine, last seen attempting to ensure his crew made it out. The search continued for five days, until Alpha Metallurgical Resources confirmed the miner’s death on November 13.
“Our hearts are broken,” said Andy Eidson, Alpha’s CEO, in the statement. “Steve joined our company in 2006 and was a dedicated employee, respected leader and friend to many. His actions to ensure the safety of his crew members were heroic. On behalf of the entire organization, we extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to his wife, two children and all who knew and cared for him.”
A room-and-pillar mine, located in Nicholas County, West Virginia, Rolling Thunder employs 60 miners and produced 426,000 tons of clean coal in 2024, according to data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Multiple state and local agencies were involved in the recovery efforts at Rolling Thunder. Dive teams and drone missions worked tirelessly, and the crews focused on lowering water levels and improving air quality to make deeper exploration possible.
Alpha says it is working closely with federal and state authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and its underlying causes.
Source: www.coalage.com
