Rescuers near Utah mine collapse area

"We, the Sanchez, Payan and Hernandez families, want to thank you immensely for your prayers at this difficult moment. We feel the loving presence of God in the midst of our pain. We ask you to continue praying for our six miners trapped in the mine." — Statement from the miners' families

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HUNTINGTON, Emery County — Rescuers this morning were expected to finally reach the area where six miners are trapped 1,886 feet underground in a collapsed mine.

Overnight, authorities tried desperately to learn the fates of Kerry Allred, Don Erickson, Luis Hernandez, Carlos Payan, Brandon Phillips and Arturo "Manuel" Sanchez.

A high-resolution camera with lights attached was painstakingly lowered down an 8 5/8-inch hole bored through a mountainside in an attempt to learn whether the men were alive or dead inside the pitch-black cavern.

"We believe they're alive until we find out otherwise," said Richard Stickler, the assistant U.S. Labor secretary over the Mine Safety and Health Administration. "That's the attitude we have in a rescue operation. It could be wrong."

The men have been trapped underground since early Monday morning, when a part of the mine collapsed in an event so powerful it registered 3.9 on the Richter scale.

The hole can let miners be provided with food, water and oxygen to sustain them until rescuers can reach them. The camera has a visibility of about 100 feet and includes audio equipment that allows rescuers to communicate with the men.

However, federal authorities admitted having some concern about the oxygen levels inside parts of the Crandall Canyon Mine. Atmospheric samples taken from inside a 2 1/2-inch hole drilled inside the mine indicated there may not be enough oxygen where the miners are believed to be to sustain human life.

Natural oxygen levels in ventilated areas of the mine are about 21 percent, but oxygen readings taken from the hole were at 7.5 percent.

"There's a variation of the oxygen levels," Stickler said, adding that it was impossible to know beforehand for sure if the miners had sufficient air.

Hopeful mine officials also said it was possible the six men had fled to an exit tunnel where there may be more air.

The 2 1/2-inch hole was drilled into the mine late Thursday and had drifted 87 feet off course during its descent. Mine officials said it broke through in a separate, but active, area of the mine.