MONTCOAL, W.Va., April 10 (UPI) -- Four miners missing since Monday at West Virginia's Upper Big Branch mine were found dead Saturday, bringing the final death toll to 29, Gov. Joe Manchin said.
"We did not receive the miracle we prayed for," Manchin said at a news conference at Marsh Fork Elementary School in Montcoal, W.Va., The Charleston Gazette reported.
Rescue workers reached a second refuge chamber on their fourth attempt Friday and found it was not deployed. An earlier search had found the first chamber undeployed.
The violent explosion of methane gas and coal dust is the worst mine disaster in the United States in 40 years.
The Upper Big Branch mine and its owner, Massey Energy, have received numerous citations for safety violations including improper ventilation.
State and federal officials have ordered an immediate investigation into what went wrong, and President Obama has commissioned a report on "what went wrong and why it went wrong so badly, so that we can take the steps necessary to prevent such accidents in the future."
