US Senate criticises mine safety

The deaths of 12 miners were preventable, Senator Byrd said

US senators have strongly criticised mining officials over recent deaths in a coal mine West Virginia.

A hearing into the death of 12 miners in an explosion this month accused officials of failing to comply with their own safety regulations.

Senator Robert C Byrd, chairman of the hearing, said the deaths had been "entirely preventable".

The criticism was rejected by the acting head of the government agency responsible for mine safety.

David Dye of the Mine Safety and Health Administration said it was too early to say exactly how the deaths in West Virginia's Sago mine had happened.

New measures

"We owe the families of these deceased and noble and great and brave men a hard look of what happened and why," Senator Byrd.

Eleven of the 12 miners died of carbon monoxide poisoning - the other one is believed to have been killed by the blast itself.

The sole survivor remains in hospital.

A fire at another West Virginia mine last week killed two miners.

On Monday, West Virginia legislators passed a series of measures aimed at improving mine safety.

The proposals include a rapid response system and updated tracking devices.