48 coal mine deaths in ’10 is worst since ’92

Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va.

The U.S. coal industry had its deadliest year in nearly two decades in 2010, with much of the death toll stemming from a single explosion.

As of Thursday, 48 miners had died in the nation’s 1,500 coal mines over the past 12 months — including 29 who were killed April 5 in a blast at Massey Energy Co.’s Upper Big Branch mine. This year’s was the highest death toll since 55 were killed in 1992, according to information compiled by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. And it was much higher than the 18 killed in 2009, the industry’s lowest tally since 1900, according to federal records.