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CNN Live At Daybreak

Interview With David Holtzman

Aired July 25, 2002 - 06:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: In a developing story this morning, at least nine miners are trapped about 300 feet underground following a cave-in. We have been following this story all morning.

We are joined now by Trooper David Holtzman of the Pennsylvania State Police. He is on the phone again with us this hour.

David, what can you tell us?

TROOPER DAVID HOLTZMAN, PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE: The crews are working feverishly to get to the miners. We are bringing in additional drilling equipment to drill the shafts down, pump out the water and get some air into to where they believe that these miners are.

COOPER: Has there been any communication with the miners?

HOLTZMAN: Not that we know at this point.

COOPER: To this point, you don't really know what condition they are in?

HOLTZMAN: No, sir, we don't.

COOPER: We have heard a report earlier that they are in a space, which is approximately 36 inches to 40 some odd inches high. Is that -- can you confirm that?

HOLTZMAN: That is correct. Most of the working area down there is only about 40 inches high.

COOPER: We also understood that there was a mine rescue team being brought in. Is that correct?

HOLTZMAN: I believe there are several mine rescue teams there that are skilled and trained in this type of rescue operation.

COOPER: So what is the biggest concern for you and the other rescuers right now?

HOLTZMAN: To make sure that they are all right, to get air to them, and to drop down some communication to find out what exactly is going on down there.

COOPER: And then, how would you attempt to bring them up?

HOLTZMAN: They have drilling equipment. They can bore a hole that's wide enough for the crews to bring up an individual probably one at a time out of that shaft. So they are drilling basically directly over them to get down to them.

COOPER: And for our viewers who are just joining us, recount, if you will, what you know about how this happened. It occurred last night. This is a mine in southwestern Pennsylvania. What do you know about how this incident began?

HOLTZMAN: It began at approximately 8:50 p.m. There were two crews down in the mine drilling coal. Apparently, there was an unmarked or unknown mineshaft on the opposite side of the coal of where they were drilling. When they drilled into the coal, that mineshaft on the other side was flooded with water, and the water began to pour into the shaft that they were in. They radioed to a crew that was behind them that they were being flooded. That crew made it to safety. The initial crew that was boring the coal are the ones that are trapped down there now.

COOPER: So the crew that is down there now actually, basically saved the other crew.

HOLTZMAN: Yes, that's correct.

COOPER: Well, Trooper Holtzman, thank you very much for joining us -- David Holtzman joining us from the Pennsylvania State Police.

HOLTZMAN: Thank you, Mr. Cooper.

COOPER: All right, thank you.

Well, this is obviously a story we will be following all day long as it happens. But nine miners, their condition unknown, trapped in a mine about 300 feet below the ground in southwestern Pennsylvania in a space that is about 12 feet wide and about 36 to 40 inches high.

So a very cramped space, a mine which apparently is filling up with water, and as we said, the condition of the miners is not, at this time, known. There has been no communication with them. Rescue crews are on the scene trying to get to them.

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