CHARLESTON -- The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training announced Thursday that all of West Virginia’s underground coal mines that are required to do so now are equipped with emergency rescue shelters.

“We are keeping our promise to the families of the miners we lost at Sago and Aracoma – they would not die in vain,” said Gov. Joe Manchin. “West Virginia is an international leader in mine safety today and I am pleased with the cooperative efforts from all the people who continue to work hard to make mining safer, including our miners, state and federal agencies and the manufacturers of these shelters.”

Regulations developed after the 2006 Sago Mine disaster required all underground mines to have shelters within 1,000 feet of the working face of a mine, among other safety provisions.

West Virginia has more than 180 mines equipped with more than 300 shelters to supply oxygen, food and water to miners who are in need of an escape alternative.

Having an emergency shelter provides miners a “no option” alternative in the event of an underground explosion, flood, fire or other emergency.