Methane Blamed for West Virginia Mine Blast

28 October 2010 (Last Updated October 28th, 2010 18:30)

Massey Energy chief executive Don Blankenship has said that methane gas was solely responsible for the disaster at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, US, that claimed 29 lives in April this year. He discounted coal dust as a responsible factor, reports the Associated Press.

Massey Energy chief executive Don Blankenship has said that methane gas was solely responsible for the disaster at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, US, that claimed 29 lives in April this year.

He discounted coal dust as a responsible factor, reports the Associated Press.

Preliminary investigations in April indicated the disaster could have occurred because of both methane gas and coal dust.

Lab tests showed explosive amounts of coal dust was present throughout the mine before the blast.