Hope never dies by Claudia Sonea

Utah miners are trapped in the Crandall Canyon mine, built into steep sandstone cliffs in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. All the progress made in clearing a path inside the blocked mine was canceled by seismic shocks. The hammering on the ceiling that miners are trained to do in an emergency or anything else was not heard from the miners since the day of the collapse. Families can only pray and hope that they are ok. Rescue crews clinging to a mountainside are trying to drill two narrow holes in an effort to bring air and food. Bob Murray, chairman of mine co-owner Murray Energy Corp, stated that progress has been made and until Friday they could break through. The drill was 1500 feet into the earth. 8,000 feet of road was bulldozed across the wilderness in order to bring the heavy equipment. A helicopter was used too. They made a 450 feet hole until Wednesday. Richard Stickler, head of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, said that they have to be very precise and the drill rig should be properly aligned. The chances to still be alive are not revealed yet. Maria Buenrostro, the sister of trapped miner Manuel Sanchez, 41, stated that all they want to know is the truth, in order to be prepared for whatever was to come. We can only hang on to hope as a last resort. Let's say a pray and hope the miners are alright. God be with you all.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070808/ap_on_re_us/utah_mine_collapse;_ylt=Apr4729kLqf899gOVCSBYums0NUE

by Claudia Sonea for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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