West Virginia mine disaster

West Virginia mine disaster West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin said families of those missing are hoping for a miracle rescue following Monday's explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine, owned by Massey Energy. A federal mining official said his agency will "leave no stone unturned" to determine what caused the disaster.

Efforts to reach victims were slowed to make sure deadly methane gas had not built up that would endanger rescuers at the mine, located 30 miles south of West Virginia's capital Charleston, Manchin said.

"The drills are in place," he said, but added: "Everyone's in agreement ... that nothing can be proceeding with the rescue operation until we know it's safe for miners to enter."

Shares of Massey Energy closed down more than 10 percent on the New York Stock Exchange. Richmond, Virginia-based Massey is the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia, operating in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia.

Analysts said Massey might suffer a short-term financial hit, but Wall Street was bullish on the company's long-term ability to ramp up production to reap higher prices for steel-making coal.

Anxious families of the miners missing in the Montcoal, West Virginia mine have been told "nothing is really going to change between now and 8 a.m." on Wednesday, Manchin said.

Crews planned to drill four holes into the mine, he said. Workers had to plow a road to the mountainous site to position the drills at the mine. Rescuers were targeting an area some 1,100 feet below the surface, he said.

The governor called the disaster "a mammoth mac dvd ripperproportion explosion, a methane build-up," although the official cause had not been determined.