5 Miners Die in Blast

The reality that mining is the most dangerous business in the world continues to be made known:

The cause of the blast at the Darby Mine No. 1 in Harlan County was not immediately known. But Fletcher said preliminary evidence suggested methane may have leaked from a sealed-off portion of the mine, mixed with oxygen and then something caused it to ignite.

It was the deadliest mining incident in the state since 1989, when 10 miners died in a western Kentucky mine blast, state officials said. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said Saturday's deaths raised the national death toll from coal mining accidents to 31 this year, with 10 of them in Kentucky.

It goes to show that regardless of the safety features instituted, mining will always be a dangerous occupation. My prayers for their families and friends.

Update: We are still light years ahead of China with regard to worker safety.