Rescue Crews Pull Out Of Mine Due To Smoke

MONTCOAL, W.Va. (AP) – Officials say rescue teams have had to pull out again from a coal mine in West Virginia where four miners are missing after an explosion that killed at least 25 people.

Federal mine safety official Kevin Stricklin said rescue teams headed to a refuge chamber where they hoped to find the missing miners but had discovered signs of fire and smoke in the mine and were ordered to retreat. It was the third time since the Monday blast that rescuers have had to pull out because of dangerous conditions.

Stricklin said it does not look like rescuers will physically be able to get to the refuge chamber because of smoke. They may have to depend on cameras to check it out.