Search continues for West Virginia worker at flooded coal mine

Mine safety officials in West Virginia ordered dive teams into a Nicholas County operation to help find a miner who was swept up by rising waters inside the cavernous workplace.

Governor Patrick Morrisey said an old mine wall was struck and opened up a pocket of water at the Rolling Thunder underground mine in the Drennen area owned by Bristol, Tennessee based Alpha Metallurgical Resources.

Morrisey said they are switching between pumping water out of the mountain while divers take breaks from their search.

It was the second mine-related incident in West Virginia in the past week. A 25-year-old worker was killed after an incident in Tucker County.

Gov. Morrisey Provides Update on the Search for Missing Miner
https://t.co/S29Ra47x0R

— Governor Patrick Morrisey (@wvgovernor) November 10, 2025

(IMAGE: Property of Mine Safety & Health Administration / Official Facebook)