Timeline of disaster in West Virginia coal mine

Monday Jan. 2

6 a.m.* An explosion traps 13 miners in the Sago Mine in Tallmansville, W.Va.

5 p.m. After waiting for dangerous gases to clear, search-and-rescue crews enter the mine.

Tuesday Jan. 3

9:02 p.m. An Associated Press news alert reports family members say rescue crews found the body of one miner.

11:45 p.m. The command center receives a radio report from the underground rescue team that 12 miners are alive.

Wednesday Jan. 4

12:30 a.m. Members of the mine rescue team, who had been wearing full-face oxygen masks, reach an area of fresh air and no longer need breathing equipment. The command center is then informed there is only one survivor. The immediate reaction at the command center is that the initial report is still correct and the report of only one survivor is in error.

1:20 a.m. The report of one survivor is confirmed.

1:38 a.m. Four more rescue teams are dispatched with EMTs to confirm the condition of the remaining miners.

2 a.m. State police are asked to notify clergy that the initial report of survivors may be incorrect. Some of the clergy get that message, but it is not "effectively relayed" to families.

2:30 a.m. ICG officials prepare a brief statement and head to the church to update the families.

3 a.m. Families tell the news media that the initial report of 12 survivors was wrong.

---

Sources: Associated Press reports and Ben Hatfield, chief executive of International Coal Group Inc. *All times are Eastern