UPDATE (12:42 p.m. Sunday) — Governor Patrick Morrisey is calling all West Virginians to pray for the coal miner unaccounted for after a Nicholas County mine flooded Saturday afternoon.
Morrisey provided more information in an X post late Sunday morning. He said teams are pumping water out of the flooded Rolling Thunder Mine in the Drennen/Swift area, and the state DEP has granted emergency approval to remove as much water as needed.
The post went on to say that bore holes have been drilled and two dive teams are at the site.
Operations are ongoing to rescue a missing miner at the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County.
The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training (OMHST) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) have been on the scene to provide Alpha Met Resources…
— Governor Patrick Morrisey (@wvgovernor) November 9, 2025
Morrisey also said that EMD delivered communications systems, making for better cellular coverage for rescue teams.
DRENNEN, W.Va. (Original) — Mine rescue teams are looking for a coal miner in a flooded Nicholas County mine.
State police said the Rolling Thunder Mine in the Drennen/Swift area flooded at about 1 p.m. Saturday and all miners but one are accounted for.
The search for the missing miner is continuing.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey made a social media post early Sunday morning releasing more information.
Morrisey said an old mine wall was compromised causing the flood.
“State and company safety personnel are currently on site assessing and responding to the situation,” Morrisey said.
We are aware of an incident at the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County in which a section of the mine operation flooded after an old mine wall was compromised. State and company safety personnel are currently on site assessing and responding to the situation.
The West…
— Governor Patrick Morrisey (@wvgovernor) November 9, 2025
He also said state and federal mine safety personnel, state emergency management, DEP, state police and local first responders are there. Morrisey added state emergency officials were coordinating with the National Cave and Rescue Commission for further assistance.
Morrisey, who did not mention the unaccounted for miner in his post, said “This remains an active situation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
It’s the second mine safety incident this week in West Virginia. A 25-year-old miner from Preston County died in a Tucker County mine Thursday.