President Barack Obama said Saturday that there must be a thorough investigation and accountability in America's worst mining disaster in 40 years.
Obama made the statement after learning that four missing miners did not survive an explosion in the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, W.Va., operated by Massey Energy Co. that left 29 men dead.
"All Americans deserve to work in a place that is safe, and we must take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that all our miners are as safe as possible so that a disaster like this doesn't happen again," Obama said.
Monday's blast was the worst U.S. coal mining disaster since a 1970 explosion killed 38 in Hyden, Ky.
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