Official: Miners trapped in Kentucky mine

NEW: Heavy rain caused a flood inside the mineWoman says she is getting half-hour updates from a federal agency on her trapped fianceWater reportedly has stopped coming into the mine; miners have plenty of oxygenCommunications are established with miners, who are unhurt

(CNN) -- Three miners were trapped Monday in a Bell County, Kentucky, coal mine but were unhurt, according to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Communications were established with the miners, who were trapped behind water in the Jellico No. 1 mine, and emergency responders were speaking with them every 15 minutes, Mine Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Amy Louviere said in a statement.

Responders were using four pumps to remove water from the mine, according to Louviere.

The mine flooded after heavy overnight rain made a diversion ditch fail, filling the mine and trapping the miners only 600 feet away from the entrance, according to a statement released by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.

The trapped miners are in the highest location in the mine, and the water has stopped coming in, said Rachel Riddle, fiancee of trapped miner Pernell Witherspoon. The availability of food and supplies is unknown, but there is plenty of oxygen for the miners, Riddle said.

The Kentucky Energy Cabinet identified the other two miners as Doug Warren and Russell Asher.

Riddle said she was waiting in an area church and receiving half-hour updates from the mine safety agency, but she couldn't speak to Witherspoon directly.

Officials have no estimated time for rescue, but maintain that it will be successful, the Cabinet's statement said.

CNN's Devon Sayers and Deanna Proeller contributed to this report.

CNN

Tornado hits Kentucky plant; storms hit the South

About 184 employees were inside a manufacturing plant when the storm arrived shortly after 1 p.m., police say. STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Likely tornado touches down in LouisianaStorms strike parts of Kentucky, Arkansas and TennesseeTornado apparently strikes manufacturing plant in KentuckyPolice spokesman: "It could have been a lot worse" RELATED TOPICSTornadoesWeatherKentucky (CNN) -- A tornado zeroed in Monday afternoon on a manufacturing plant in southwestern Kentucky, tossing pieces of the roof, collapsing part of the aluminum structure and injuring seven people, officials said.

Elsewhere in the South, thunderstorms caused damage, injuries and power failures.

Severe thunderstorm warnings extended from Atlanta to Charleston, West Virginia, and eastern Ohio.

About 184 employees were inside TGASK, a plant that makes automotive parts, when the storm arrived shortly after 1 p.m., said Paul Ray, spokesman for the Hopkinsville Police Department.

None of the injured had life-threatening injuries, said spokeswoman Jessica Beckham of Jennie Stuart Medical Center. Ray said the injuries were mostly bumps and bruises.

The manufacturing plant is between Hopkinsville and Pembroke.

"It could have been a lot worse," Ray told CNN. The plant was "very fortunate that at that time, there were very few injuries, and only minor injuries." All employees had been accounted for, he added.

The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management said possible tornadoes struck near La Center in Ballard County, with injuries being reported.

One injury was reported from a storm that hit a mobile home park in Greenville, Kentucky, said Police Chief Darren Harvey.

A likely tornado touched down two miles south of Georgetown in Grant Parish, Louisiana, on Monday afternoon, the Grant Parish Sheriff's Office said. There were reports of widespread damage in the community of Selma.

Numerous trees and power lines were down across the area, the sheriff's department said.

Officials in Arkansas reported at least three injuries from fast-moving storms.

More than 58,000 customers were without power in Tennessee, according to Nashville Electric Service.

Storms also struck Humphreys County in Tennessee, about 60 miles west of Nashville, according to authorities.

"We were hit hard in our downtown area," said Waverly City Manager Buddy Frazier.

Although no injuries were reported, trees, power lines, roofs and structures were down, Frazier told CNN.

A dispatcher said a communications tower was down in Humphreys County, but workers were still able to send and receive messages.

CNN's Sean Morris, Chuck Johnston, Aaron Cooper, Dave Alsup and Jackie Castillo contributed to this report

View the Original article