ABANDONED GILMER MINE BLOWS - Sends Debris Into Rt. 5. And Little Kanawha River, Water Co. Officials Notified

(03/27/2015)

Responders in Gilmer County were called to the scene of an abandoned mine that blew-out about 3:30 a.m. Thursday morning. Crews responded to the intersection of Route 5 and Lynch Run Road, an area between Glenville and Sand Fork. Officials said the mine face gave way causing water, mud, wood, coal and other debris to flood into the roadway shutting down Route 5 for a period of time and spilling into the Little Kanawha River. Officials are trying to figure out what caused the mine to blow, but believe it was a result of melted snow and heavy rain flooding the area. Gilmer Fire Chief Martin Hess said, "The main thing is no body got hurt. We've notified water companies and plants from here to Parkersburg about the situation so they can close their intakes and not take any water in." The Division Of Highways and the Gilmer County Volunteer Fire Department cleared the road around 7:00 a.m. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Public Health, and Gilmer County PSD have been called to the scene to check for contaminants. Testing on the water will continue throughout the day. See BILLION DOLLARS NEEDED TO RECLAIM WEST VIRGINIA'S ABANDONED MINES - State Still Hostage To King Coal

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