I'm surprised no one has spoken of this incident:
Anyways, what do you guys think? I for one am a bit disgusted by the mining company's misinforming the town.
I just think it was horrible that many of the families of the victims were told that they were still alive, and then shortly after the sigh of relief it is revealed that all but one is dead, and the one survivor is in critical condition.
I pray for the victims and the families...I too am saddened by the company's way of handling the situation.
~T2K
This is awful. I don't blame the families for being angry at the mining company. My condolences and prayers go out to the families.
First reports this side of the pond said that the company never officially announced that they were all alive. It sounded like the rumour spread, the townsfolk celebrated while the company tried to confirm whether it was right.
One US commentator basically said it was like a game of Chinese Whispers. The rescue team might have said something like "we've found 12 people" and this got transmogrified into "we've found all 12 people alive".
BBC News Online now says that this misinterpreted message from HQ was passed on to the families and that, when 45 minutes later the company received news that this might not be true, they delayed making more announcements until they were sure of their facts.
It was a horrible miscommunication and possibly one that could have been avoided, but I would imagine such things are more than likely during emergency situations. I feel for the families, but I wouldn't vilify the company.
DW
darkwinguk is right, as far as I've heard. The rescue team sent back a coded message, someone misunderstood that message and someone else leaked it outside...20 minutes later, the company found out, but allowed the celebrations to go on...for another 2 hours!
That's what pissed me off; If you know you screwed up, go out and admitt it right away. It's not the company's fault for the leak, but rather for not getting the truth out sooner! That's why I would "vilify" the company...
EDIT:
By the way...The news this morning said the one survivor is doing fine...he has a collapsed lung, but he can squeeze his wife's hand!
What I wonder is how the one survived? NBC news was saying he was the youngest of the group. Maybe health had to do with it? They had an expert on who said if you lie flat and pace your breathing, you can extend the amount of time the oxygen mask grants you...What I think is more likely is the others decided he had the most to live for. Many of the dead were near retirement...actually only a few months away, sadly. What are your thoughts?
The reason the whole '12 found alive!' tidbit got out was because someone misheard a cellphone conversation. And for three hours, it went unchallenged.
That's just pitiful. May God and his grace comfort these families. May the souls of the departed reach their destination.
I've heard about this on the news on television. I think it really was all a huge lack of communication between the company, etc.
This is all very tragic, indeed, and my prayers go out to the mourning families...
http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/1/4/220540.shtm l">President Bush Blamed for Mine Disaster
Quote:
Less than 24-hours after 12 of the 13 workers trapped by a West Virginia mine explosion were found dead, critics were already politicizing the disaster, with at least one mine safety expert blaming President Bush.
"This mine should have been closed," former director of the National Mine Safety and Health Academy, Jack Spadaro, told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" Wednesday night.
"There were too many serious [safety] violations and the record is very clear," he added.
Asked why the allegedly unsafe mine continued to operate, Spadaro contended:
"I think it's because of the current Bush administration's policies toward mine operators and their reluctance to take the strong enforcement action that's sometimes necessary."
Spadaro insisted that "there has been a significant change since the Bush administration took over the enforcement of mine safety."
He said that the White House's lax approach to mine safety had made mine operators "reluctant to follow the law."
...so...you're saying nobody died in mines before Bush came into office? Okay...
You know, let's just go ahead and get it out of the way now. Everything is Bush's fault!
Bush is pretty much a guy with omnipotent powers, with an almighty crystal ball that gives him insight into the future. That's what everyone's making him out to be when something bad happens that's beyond his control. He's behind the bird flu, hemorrhoids, athlete's foot, and toe fungus. He conspired with Rove to make the weather machine that caused Katrina, and then he blew up the levees! He's responsible for global warming, just like he's responsible for the birth of Communism! I don't know how he tied in to the Black Plague or the meteor that killed the dinosaurs, but I'm getting there! He also ran over my cat, but not before stealing her vote!
Oh, and he hasn't outlawed lightning strikes yet. BUSH'S FAULT.
<Grabs Pitchfork> YEAH! Let's go get him!!!!...wait...I voted for him...<goes and hides in his treehouse>...
I think Ultra supports Bush...
Very tragic about the incident, really big screwup there...
Quote:
You know, let's just go ahead and get it out of the way now. Everything is Bush's fault!
From the fall of man from paradise onwards, no less.
I actually support Bush too...I was serious about voting for him (my first presidential election ^^)
The last part was a nod to Family Guy
Quote:
May God and his grace comfort these families. May the souls of the departed reach their destination.
Amen.
What I sincerely hope for is the speedy and full recovery of the one survivor. I don't think it's going to be easy; just the psychological trauma alone will be devastating.
What I'm worried about is survivor's guilt. I also hope that the one survivor doesn't garner irrational anger from the families of the people who died. The families seemed very angry and distraught the last we heard from them; I hope that anger doesn't get misdirected towards Randy McCloy and his family. That'd be the last thing they need.
