US EditionA flood inside a coal mine in West Virginia has trapped a coal miner inside
Emergency responders deploy an underwater drone to map flooded tunnels and locate the trapped miner after striking an unknown water pocket inside the mine, officials said.
- On Saturday, a coal miner became trapped deep inside a flooded section of the Rolling Thunder coal mine near Drennen, Nicholas County, and emergency crews are racing to locate him.
- Nicholas County Commissioner Garrett Cole said the crew accidentally struck an unknown pocket of water about three-quarters of a mile into the Rolling Thunder mine, while West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey reported an old mine wall "was compromised," allowing flooding.
- Officials said rescuers planned to deploy an underwater drone on Sunday to map the interior and use pumps and specialized underwater technology amid poor visibility and unstable conditions.
- All other miners on the shift were accounted for after the accident was reported to county emergency management about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, while Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc. said it is fully cooperating and supporting rescue teams and family.
- Rolling Thunder is one of 11 underground mines run by Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc., whose February report by Marshall Miller & Associates found no significant hydrologic concerns; Nicholas County residents and the town of Drennen are supporting responders.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Search continues for miner trapped inside flooded mine in WV, governor calling in national experts
Rescue crews are working to find a miner trapped inside Alpha Metallurgical Resources' Rolling Thunder mine in Nicholas County, West Virginia, after water flooded the mine Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Leslie Rubin/WCHS)A massive search operation is underway for a coal miner who was trapped after water flooded a Nicholas County, West Virginia mine over the weekend. Rescue crews continue to focus on removing the water as quickly as p…
Underwater Drone Deployed to Reach Trapped Miner in Flooded West Virginia Coal Mine – Knowhere News
Drennen, WV — Emergency crews are racing against time to locate a trapped miner deep inside a flooded section of the Rolling Thunder coal mine in Nicholas County. Officials said rescuers planned to deploy an underwater drone on Sunday in hopes of reaching the worker, who has been missing since a water pocket burst inside the mine. Sudden Flooding After Wall Collapse According to Nicholas County Commissioner Garrett Cole, the flooding began Satur…
Update: Dive teams enter mine twice in search for missing Nicholas County coal miner
Emergency responders were hoping to use an underwater dron, on Nov. 9, 2025, to reach a miner trapped deep inside a flooded Nicholas County coal mine, authorities said. A mining crew hit an unknown pocket of water on Nov. 8, 2025, about three-quarters of a mile into the Rolling Thunder mine near Drennen, Nicholas County, Nicholas County Commissioner Garrett Cole said in a Facebook post.
Associated Press News
A flood inside a coal mine in West Virginia has trapped a coal miner inside
State and local official say a flood inside an underground West Virginia coal mine has trapped a miner inside, and rescue crews have been pumping water out to get to him.
KRQE News 13
WOWKMiner unaccounted for after flood
DRENNEN, W.Va (WOWK) -- Nicholas County Commission President D. Craig Chapman says at least one person is unaccounted for and believed trapped about 3/4 of a mile under the mountain at the Rolling Thunder Mines in Drennen, WV. Chapman also says the county's Office of Emergency Services director gave an update, saying crews were pumping water out around 10 p.m. trying to locate the miner. Officials also say the mines started to flood around 1 p.m…
Miner unaccounted for after flood in Nicholas County
DRENNEN, W.Va. (WOWK) — Nicholas County Commission President D. Craig Chapman says at least one person is unaccounted for and believed trapped about 3/4 of a mile under the mountain at the Rolling Thunder Mines in Drennen, WV. Chapman also says the county's Office of Emergency Services director gave an update, saying crews were pumping water out around 10 p.m. trying to locate the miner. Officials also say the mines started to flood around 1 p.m…
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