CHARLESTON, W.Va. â?? The state mine director says six miners are dead and 21 missing following a West Virginia coal mine explosion.
Ron Wooten says initial reports are that the explosion occurred about 3 p.m. at Massey Energy's Performance Coal Co. mine in Raleigh County, about 30 miles south of Charleston.
Emergency crews are heading to the mine that is located near Montcalm.
Massey Energy reported the explosion but did not provide details.
Wooten says he has yet to talk with anyone at the mine.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
MONTCOAL, W.Va. (AP) â?? An explosion occurred Monday at an underground coal mine but Massey Energy did not immediately report whether miners were trapped or injured.
The blast happened at the Upper Big Branch mine in Raleigh County, about 30 miles south of Charleston. The company did not provide details on the extent of the damage.
The mine is operated by Massey subsidiary Performance Coal Co.
Mine emergency crews from the State Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training were headed to the scene, but agency spokeswoman Jama Jarrett had no more details.
In 1998, a worker at the mine was killed when a support beam collapsed, dumping bags of cement mix and other materials onto the man, according to a report from the federal Mine Safety & Health Administration. Federal investigators blamed poor welding and construction.
In 2001, another worker at the mine died after a portion of roof fell in on him.