Whitesville, West Virginia (WCHS) — Saturday marked the 15th anniversary of one of West Virginia’s most deadly mining disasters.
On April 5, 2010, a coal dust explosion killed 29 miners at the Upper Big Branch mine in Whitesville, resulting in the worst mining disaster in 40 years.
Following the incident, regulars began to impose more stringent mine safety guidelines, resulting in fewer violations in the state in subsequent years. A memorial was built in 2012 to honor the miners who died in Whitesville.
According to a post by the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, people gathered on Saturday at the Miners Memorial Garden at the Raleigh County Courthouse to remember those who died in the tragedy.
Don Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy, which owned the Upper Big Branch mine, served a year in prison for violating mine safety laws that led to the disaster. Following his release from prison, he unsuccessfully ran for public office on several occasions.
While Saturday marked the 15th anniversary of the incident, the Department of Government Efficiency announced plans to cut the Mine Safety and Health Administration, a labor department in charge of enforcing mine safety.
Eyewitness News created a special presentation for the 10th anniversary of the disaster, which can be viewed below.
