Utah Sudden Shut Down Over Safety Fears

A Utah coal mine has shut down with no prior warning, a week after its operator was hit with a huge fine following safety assessments.

The Tower mine, the deepest coal mine in the US, was shut due to "unexpected and unusual stress conditions", UtahAmerican Energy told Associated Press.

Last month the mine was charged US$420,000 in fines for "flagrant" safety violations involving explosive hazards by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

The administration issued another set of fines later on in March for violations at the West Ridge coal mine, also owned by UtahAmerican Energy, a subsidiary of Ohio-based Murray Energy.

In August last year, nine people died in two cave-ins at Crandall Canyon mine, also in Utah's coal district.

By Ozge Ibrahim