An explosion at the Upper Big Branch South Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia on Monday killed at least 25 miners, and four are still unaccounted for, according to Governor Joe Manchin. Today, about 32 rescuers entered the mine in an attempt to make their way to a chamber where it is believed that four men may have sought refuge following the blast.

The rescue team is equipped with oxygen, although a spokesperson from the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, was hopeful that “they wouldn’t have to use it.”

Nonetheless, “they have to be prepared to go into bad air,” the spokesman said. The crew plans to go directly to two refuge areas located about five miles from the entrance to the mine. The rescue efforts, say officials, are dangerous, and crews will be entering areas where carbon monoxide levels in the air may be reach potentially fatal levels.

Joe Main, the director of the MSHA, said that “…we have designed a plan that we get the rescue teams safely in and safely back out. As we proceed, there will be judgments made about how far to continue the rescue effort based on the conditions they run into.” Main also told reporters that the four missing miners would have had no chance for survival unless they were able to make their way to the refuge chambers, where there is enough oxygen, food, and water to sustain up to 15 miners for 96 hours.

Mining is undoubtedly one of the country’s most dangerous, yet lucrative professions. Some miners who worked at the Montcoal mine told reporters this week that they are “obsessed” with the cash that mining can bring, and will risk their lives in order to make a good living.

As the entire nation watches and waits for an outcome in West Virginia today, the mining community of Libby, Montana is most likely watching with even heavier hearts and a sense of empathy, as this small town knows far too well the health risks associated with mining. The Montana town has faced unbelievable health problems as a result of extensive asbestos contamination from a now-closed vermiculite mine operated by W. R. Grace & Co. A local doctor there told reporters last year that he continues to diagnose residents with asbestos illnesses, like asbestosis, pleural plaques and mesothelioma at a rate of one resident per day.

In addition to carbon monoxide exposure, the rescue crews face the risk of methane inhalation as they search the mine today. In addition to rescue efforts focused on the four missing miners, crews must also remove the bodies of 18 miners, which were located on Tuesday. Two miners survived and were treated at a hospital.

Relatives who have held vigil at the mine since Monday are still holding out hope that their loved ones may have survived.

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