RALEIGH COUNTY, W.Va. (WVVA) - Today marks the 13th anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, and W.Va. lawmakers commented on the anniversary remembering the victims.
Governor Jim Justice mentioned the UBB disaster in his administration update briefing saying, “Today is an anniversary, with my family being in the coal mining business, it’s an anniversary that is terribly sad. It’s the UBB anniversary, it’s 13 years since that terrible explosion at Upper Big Branch Mine that claimed 29 very, very courageous lives. It brought an earthquake of sadness to the coalfields, surely to our family, and many, many, many others. It was just terrible.”
He finished by saying. “It’s a sad day, and we lost some real heroes.”
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said, “Thirteen years ago, West Virginia suffered an immeasurable loss when 29 brave coal miners were killed in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster. My heart goes out to the friends and families of Carl, Christopher, Kenneth, Cory, Michael, Steve, Rick, Joe, Nicolas, Adam, Josh, Dewey, Gary, Grover, Ricky, Jason, Greg, Robert, Timmy, William, Dean, Roosevelt, Ronald, Eddie, Rex, Boone, Jody, Deward and Benny—whose lives were forever changed following that terrible disaster. The anniversary of that horrific day continues to be a reminder that the health and safety of our coal miners must be our highest priority so that no family has to suffer such an unimaginable loss again. Gayle and I join all West Virginians in honoring the memory of the 29 courageous miners who lost their lives that day as we continue to keep them and their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito adding, “13 years later, we continue to mourn and remember the 20 lives lost during the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster. Charlie and I send our prayers for comfort to their families, loved ones, and communities.”
The coal dust explosion happened roughly 1,000 feet underground in the Upper Big Branch mine at 3:27 p.m. and killed 29 out of the 31 miners on April 5, 2010. This was the worst coal mine disaster in the United States since 1970.
A memorial ceremony was also held in honor of the victims at the miner’s memorial in uptown Beckley. The families of those who lost loved ones in the disaster were also on hand, including Betty Harrah, who lost her brother Steve Harrah in the blast.
She says time does not heal the wounds of her loss that day.
Harrah said, “It’s laughter, his sarcasm, his personality, he was unreal, he loved to pick on people. If he picked on you, it meant he liked you.”
After the ceremony, former delegate Mick Bates unveiled plans for a new memorial for the miners.
He says the Chamber of Commerce project is being funded through the Beckley area foundation and will be located at beckley’s exhibition coal mine. Bates says the goal is to break ground on the project within the year.