I can't help but feel bad for the families that are awaiting word on their loved ones. Having found one dead, it's truely sad, but to me keeps in mind the brotherhood of Unions. Not that this is a Union thread, but it's a family and hopefully the other 12 miners can come out ok.

I hadnt heard about this ? work related tragedys are the worst, especially when they are like a mine or ship, the no way out kind of thing. I cant imagine that kind of job, I have the greatest respect for those that go into that awful environment day after day after day.

I remember something like this happened in PA a few years ago and everyone was rescued without a problem. The miners had a problem with water, though. They broke through a wall and had a flood so they weren't dealing with explosions and dangerous gasses. When I first heard about this I thought everyone would end up in the same boat (fine) but it looks like all hope it lost. I grieve for the families.

They have found 12 alive!!! It's all over the news this is breaking news. Oh man it's so good to hear this!

News just came in that only one of the miners actually survived, and he's in critical condition... :(

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4579698.stm

I can't think of a more draining, exhausting experience than the roller coaster these poor families have been on. All over a misheard cell phone conversation. My heart goes out to them.

My maternal grandfather was a coal miner back in Slovakia.... and a jack-of-all trades outdoorsman (hunting, fishing, hiking, etc.) & a part-time butcher. He's still alvive today but can't get around much since he broke his back all his life.

It's a very tragic incident... that's a brutal, difficult job..I couldn't imagine working underground like that. I grew up in a coal-mining area of Eastern Ohio and my family has a history in coal mining--my grandfather on my mother's side owned a company that owned mines in SE Kentucky, and two of his sons (now retired) worked in the business managing mines in KY.

It's a horrible, horrible story.

I heard about this today at school... I just can't believe how they made the mistake of thinking 12 were alive when only one survived. Very sad, regardless. Poor families... Anyways, my family has a history in coal mining as does the actual town I live in, Ramsaytown. I know my great grandfathers were miners, one actually lived in the house I do. This town was started because of mining and most houses were built for miners. That was back about 200 years ago. Coal can literally be found everywhere... including my back yard, which also has a deep hole from mining. It's atleast 30 ft deep.

There is some amazing video of the families reacting over at cnn.com. Is it just me or should the media just run the most honest videos of people being themselves and not try to put a spin on it. Really affecting stories from these people, and really affecting moods are portrayed through just watching the whole video and not just snippets coupled with reactions, heartbreaking.