Six reported dead in West Virginia coal mine collapse

(Reuters) - Six people are dead and 21 unaccounted for after the collapse of a coal mine roof on Monday afternoon at a West Virginia coal mine owned by a unit of Massey Energy, local TV station WSAZ reported on its website, citing an unnamed state mining official.

The station said emergency crews were working at the scene of the collapse at the mine in Montcoal, West Virginia.

Local officials confirmed that the blast occurred.

"There was an explosion," Robert Jelacic, assistant shift leader for the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services told Reuters.

Jelacic said the explosion was at the Upper Big Branch Mine, owned by Massey's Performance Coal subsidiary.

"We have injuries but we don't know how many now," he said, adding that the explosion occurred at about 5 p.m. on Monday.

Reporting by Mark Egan in New York and Jon Hurdle in PhiladelphiaEditing by David Gregorio

Reuters