Fifth rescue hole due at Utah coal mine

HUNTINGTON, Utah, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- A fifth bore hole to reach six Utah coal miners was expected to reach their cavern site Tuesday in an attempt company officials warned could be the last.

Crandall Canyon Mine co-owner Bob Murray told reporters near Huntington, Utah, everything that could be done since the Aug. 6 collapse had been and continued to be done but he added that he had doubts the trapped miners were alive, the Deseret Morning News said Tuesday.

"I don't know whether the miners will be found," Murray said, "but I'm not optimistic they'll be found alive."

Three rescuers died in another cave-in last week trying to tunnel to the trapped miners.

Richard Stickler of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said Monday that a panel of experts found the evidence was "overwhelming" that conditions were too unpredictable to risk further lives. But he said if any indications of life were found with Tuesday's fifth hole, an attempt would be made to bring any trapped people out, CNN reported.