Search Continues for Utah Miners Despite Weakening Prospects

Rescuers are continuing their search for the six missing Utah miners despite statements from officials last week on ending the effort after completion of the sixth borehole.

|PIC1|"We haven't given up hope," said Bob Murray, co-owner of the mine, according to CNN.

Drilling of a seventh borehole began into Crandall Canyon mine Sunday and a robotic camera was also lowered into one of the already dug holes, according to The Associated Press.

"It's a long shot, and I repeat, it's a long shot. But we owe it to the families to do everything we can to locate their loved ones," said Jack Kuzar, a district manager for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, according to AP.

Officials and experts acknowledged there is little hope in finding the miners citing previous results showing no life and new obstacles faced by the robot.

Robin Murphy, a mechanical engineer and director of the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue at the University of South Florida, said there is less than a 50 percent chance of discovering any "additional information" because of the treacherous conditions inside the mine.

"Frankly, it's a long shot," Murphy told reporters Sunday, according to CNN. "It's certainly a chance we're all willing to take."

A similar camera robot was used to search in the rubbles of the World Trade Center in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The eight inch in diameter robot is expected to give rescuers above ground a clearer view of inside the mine. Its 200-watt light will help it take images in the dark cave and it can travel up to 1,000 feet, officials said.

However, simply getting the robot 2,000 feet down the mine poses an obstacle in itself.

The size of the robot compared to the size of the borehole might cause it to be stuck part way down the rocky hole which can also damage the camera, warned Murphy.

If it makes it to the mine, the robot could be entangled with the chain-link fence lining the ceiling or be stuck in the mud or rocks on the floor.

"Certainly, if we could find any sign of the miners, that would be terrific," Murphy said.

She noted that if nothing is found, rescuers will also face the difficult task of retrieving the robot back through the hole so it can be lowered into another hole.

The robot took about a week to build and a second device would take a similar time period to construct.

However, the family members of the mine are said to be happy that efforts have continued after emotions flared last week when officials said they intended to call off the search if no positive results appear after the sixth borehole.

"We're very excited about it. The families are thrilled to hear this," said Colin King, the families' lawyer, according to AP.

Meanwhile, the seventh hole was drilled into the "kitchen area" of the mine - an area where miners are trained to run to in case of collapse, according to AP. Workers began the hole Sunday and no estimate has been given on when it will be completed. Previous holes took about two days.

"It brings the hope back up. We needed that and we're going to keep going until we find these guys," said Cesar Sanchez, brother of trapped miner Manuel Sanchez, according to AP.

The six miners have been trapped in Crandall Canyon mine, just outside Huntington, Utah after a "mountain bump" - or the shifting grounds which cause chunks of rocks to fall from the wall - occurred Aug. 6. Two more mountain bumps occurred since the initial cave-in causing with the first causing a delay in rescue efforts and the second one causing three deaths and six injuries during an underground rescue operation.

The missing men are: Luis Hernandez, Manuel Sanchez, Kerry Allred, Carlos Payan, Brandon Phillips and Don Erickson.