Robot joins search for Utah coal miners

HUNTINGTON, Utah, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- U.S. mine officials secretly sent a robot to the scene of the Huntington, Utah, coal mine collapse to search for six miners trapped two weeks ago.

Jack Kuzar, district manager for the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said the robot arrived Friday but it was kept secret as it wasn't immediately known of it would work, the (Salt Lake) Deseret Morning News reported Monday.

The robot was to be lowered Monday down the fourth of six holes bored into the Crandall Canyon mine as anxious family members maintained their vigils.

"It's a long shot, and I repeat, it's a long shot, but we have to do everything possible to locate their loved ones," he said.

A similar tethered robot was used to search New York's World Trade Center after the towers fell in the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

News also emerged Sunday that mine owner Murray Energy Corp., would begin Monday drilling a seventh borehole into the kitchen area, acceding to family requests, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.