Miner Missing Since Quake Found Fate Of Second Missing Miner Unknown As Search Continues

One of two missing miners was found alive Saturday, a day after an earthquake trapped him in the mine about 1,600 feet underground.

Rescuers found Dan Jereb walking in the Solvay Minerals mine at about 5:15 p.m., authorities said.

He had been missing since a 5.4 magnitude quake hit the region Friday morning, raining rocks and dust on miners.

Jereb was taken to a hospital. It was not immediately clear if he had been injured or whether he knew the whereabouts of the second miner.

Earthquake damage to the ventilation system had slowed the search at the trona mine in southwestern Wyoming.

Trona is used in making baking soda and glass.

Eight-member rescue teams began inching through the mine shafts Friday afternoon.

Searchers had to wait several hours to enter the mine because of high levels of methane gas.

State Sen. Mark Harris said rescuers had to stop along the way to repair the ventilation system.

“They’re doing it just about as fast and efficiently as they can,” said Harris, an electrician at a nearby General Chemical trona mine.

“You obviously have a lot of hazards down there. It is a painfully slow process.”

Fifty-five miners were in the mine when the quake struck.

Nine suffered minor injuries from falling rocks.