April 6, 2026 - Sunday marked 16 years since one of the deadliest mine disasters in American history.

In 2010, 29 men lost their lives in a coal dust explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, making it one of the worst coal mining disasters in West Virginia history.

In remembrance of the disaster, the community is expected to hold a vigil on Monday.

The disaster happened roughly 1,000 feet underground when on April 5, 2010, sparks ignited a methane pocket, which cascaded into a coal dust explosion.

Investigators found that mine ventilation was not working right, and the mine owner, Massey Energy, was blamed.