Russia Mining Rescue

Emergency Situations Ministry rescuers prepare a buldozer for work in a shaft at Zapadnaya coal mine, Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, near the town of Novoshakhtinsk, Russia. Teams of rescue workers on Friday scrambled to find ways to reach 46 coal miners trapped underground in a shaft in southern Russia.

Relatives and friends of miners wait for news at the Zapadnaya mine near the town of Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Friday, Oct. 24, 2003. The miners were working some 2,625 feet underground when water from a subterranean lake leaked into a shaft above them, blocking their way to the surface. The sign in the background reads Zapadnaya Mine.

A truck with stones is unloaded in the Zapadnaya mine near Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Friday, Oct. 24, 2003. Rescue workers Friday worked to reach to reach 46 coal miners trapped about a half-mile underground in a shaft in southern Russia. Water from a subterranean lake leaked into a shaft above the miners, blocking their way to the surface.

Relatives of miners wait for news at the Zapadnaya mine near the town of Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Friday, Oct. 24, 2003.

Rescue workers bring to the surface a miner lying on a stretcher at the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003. Forty-six miners have been trapped underground in a flooded mine shaft for nearly two days in southern Russia.

Relatives of miners stand at the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003. Rescue workers on Saturday began lifting to the surface 46 miners trapped underground in a flooded mine shaft for nearly two days in southern Russia.

Rescue workers bring to the surface a miner at the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003.

A miner waves after he was brought to the surface by rescue workers at the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003. Rescue workers on Saturday began lifting to the surface 46 miners trapped underground.

An Orthodox priest sprinkles holy water at the entrance to the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, during a public prayer for the rescue of the miners trapped deep underground at the mine, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003.

Relatives of miners trapped deep underground at the Zapadnaya mine bow their heads toward an Orthodox priest during a public prayer for the rescue of the miners at the site of the accident, Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003. The fate of 13 others remains unknown.

A dump-truck unloads its stones during rescue operations at the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Monday, Oct. 27, 2003. Rescue officials said Monday they believed 13 miners trapped deep underground for four days could still be alive as long as they had air to breathe. Workers were tunneling their way to them from another mine shaft.

Rescue workers talk during rescue operations at the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Monday, Oct. 27, 2003. Rescue officials said Monday they believed 13 miners trapped deep underground for four days could still be alive as long as they had air to breathe.Workers were tunneling their way to them from another mine shaft.

Miners and rescue workers set up a video camera for checking underground at the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003. Emergency workers on Tuesday stopped the flow of water into a flooded mine where 13 miners have been trapped for five days, as drillers came within yards of the men's presumed location.

Relatives of miners listen to information during a meeting at the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003.

Relatives of miners weep during a meeting in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003.

One of 11 rescued miners leaves a shaft outside the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003. Eleven of 13 coal miners who were trapped in a deep shaft in southern Russia for six days were found alive Wednesday, and rescuers led them out of the mine after blasting a tunnel through solid rock. One of the trapped miners died underground and one remained missing.

One of eleven rescued miners waves outside the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003. Eleven of 13 coal miners who were trapped in a deep shaft in southern Russia for six days were found alive Wednesday. One of the trapped miners died underground and one remained missing.

One of eleven rescued miners leaves a shaft outside the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003. Eleven of 13 coal miners who were trapped in a deep shaft in southern Russia for six days were found alive Wednesday, and rescuers led them out of the mine after blasting a tunnel through solid rock.

One of 11 rescued miners gets into an ambulance outside the Zapadnaya mine in Novoshakhtinsk, southern Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003.