Just heard the news as well. Deepest sympathies to the families of those that were lost; and earnest prayers for the man rescued.

:( Me too. So incredibly sad.

I have been down a coal mine on a school excursion (back before the fear of lawsuits).

I could not do it for a living, and we only went the first 180 metres of over 3 kilometers of tunnel.

The families are in my thoughts.

Haven't been in a coal mine, but have been in a salt mine in Austria and in caves here in the US, and like you, Oldfart, wouldn't really want to spend much time "down under."

If the lights go out, black is an understatement.

Always wonder why, in mines, they don't construct concrete block "safety shelters" every so. Equip them with oxygen, emergency rations, etc. (I would think that they could be done inexpensively enough). Or backup air shafts.

How sad.

oh god! how awful! I feel so bad for the families of the 12 and their emotional rollercoaster ride. Miscommunication is to blame for the news of the last trapped being alive, but no one is making any apologies to the families. "Witnesses said one man had to be wrestled to the ground when he lunged for mining officials." (AP) I don't blame that man one bit.....


On happier news..........There is one MIRACLE!!!!! one man survived!!!! right now there are no signs of brain damage and let's keep hoping that the 27 year old pulls thru and recovers.

The mine my grandfathers worked is now a tourist attraction. My father had a tough time going down, too.

My heart is breaking over the miscommunication & my thoughts are with the families.

I didn’t think more dreaded news for a mining family could be had than “trapped men”. ………… but they found it. :(

Holy crap......shades of "Cool Hand Luke? (I know what I mean)

How on earth did this "miscommunication" ever ever come about?

How devastating for the poor people who thought their loved ones to be alive.

I cannot imagine how these families must be reeling. It's like a cruel joke isn't it?

From the latest I've seen, "We've located the miners and are checking their vital signs" was interpreted by the rescue command center as "We have miners that are showing signs of life". I'm sorry, but there's no excuse for any news to have left that command center until it was absolutely, positively 100% accurate and verified. Someone should have thought to ask "ARE THEY ALIVE...YES OR NO?".

God damnit...people hate bad news, but they hate being mislead or lied to even more!

I agree............... but this time I do believe it was emotional stupidity and not the NORMAL premeditated treachery and deceit from the mouth of ‘officials’.

I tend to agree with you there. Everyone was so eager to report something positive, and everyone wanted to be the ones to break the news. It's a sad situation all the way around.

HOLY SHIT... ive just read all the posts here and i must say that this goes beyond miscommunication and into the total fuck up area.

I agree with WI someone should have thought to as that question.

I feel so sorry for the relatives of everyone and my heart goes out to them all.

Not sure which is the bigger tragedy - the loss of the men or the false information about them being found alive and then told otherwise some time later. Either way - a loss of untold magnitude

I read an earlier report (now updated and not available) that stated the misgiving came from the rescue team’s radio message of “We found the men. We are checking vital signs.” I can understand where what ‘you WANT to hear’ came from that. Not qualifying further before passing along the information was the error. A sad, but human one at that scene I’m sure.