Blast Traps 13 in a Coal Mine in West Virginia

TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va., Jan. 2 - A thunderous explosion in an underground mine on Monday morning trapped 13 coal miners behind a wall of rubble more than a mile from the mine shaft opening, stymieing rescue crews that worked frantically into the night to save them.

By midevening, rescuers still had not been able to communicate with the trapped miners, and it was unclear whether any of them were still alive, officials said. Five other miners were able to walk out of the mine unhurt and call for help.

Gov. Joe Manchin III said the 13 miners had just entered the mine for the start of their shift shortly after 6 a.m. when the explosion occurred. A crew behind them fled, then tried to go back but were unable to reach the miners, Mr. Manchin said.