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American Morning

Rescue Operations Continuing for Pennsylvania Miners

Aired July 25, 2002 - 09:01   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Nine miners trapped in a collapsed mine shaft threatened by floodwater at a coal mine in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Brian Palmer has made it to the scene. He is live now at the command center in nearby Somerset.

Brian, good morning, we heard a short time ago tapping had been picked up hours ago. What's the latest now?

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly, Bill, that is actually the latest sign of life. About four to six hours ago, rescuers heard tapping on a drill that they'd sunk 240 feet into the earth, tapping at about 3 -- between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., sign of life that perhaps some of the miners are still alive.

Authorities say they're bringing in an even bigger rig that can drill a 36-inch hole. They're hoping to put rescuers down into that mine which is flooding with water from an abandoned mine. The spokesman from the Bureau of Deep Mine Safety says that if that abandoned mine that didn't even show up on contemporary charts is filled with millions and millions of gallons of water -- Bill.

HEMMER: And, Brian, we have talked earlier today about the area where they believe these men might be held right now. If you're claustrophobic, this is not the place to be. How large is it on the latest report -- Brian?

PALMER: Well what the folks from the Bureau of Deep Mine Safety are saying is that it's -- that there is a pocket in this area. It's about -- it's about a mile away from the entrance to the mine and about between 250 and 300 feet below the surface.

But in terms of getting a sense of the size of the area, that's rather difficult because it is filling with water, but there's not much clearance. You certainly can not stand up. They go on in -- go in on these battery-operated trolleys and there is a -- you know they can sort of lay back, they can -- they can almost sit up, but it really is a tight space -- Bill.

HEMMER: Brian, thank you.

Brian Palmer, again, on the scene there in southwestern Pennsylvania. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com