MONTCOAL, WEST VIRGINIA (AP) -- A spokeswoman for the state mine office says the bodies of all 29 West Virginia coal miners killed in an explosion last week have been recovered from the mine. They're being sent to the state medical examiner for autopsies. Federal investigators are looking into what caused the disaster.
Meanwhile, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has restored funding for mine safety inspections in the commonwealth, just a week after the West Virginia explosion.McDonnell's move puts back about $750,000 for public safety work.
In a statement, McDonnell says the deadly blast in West Virginia was a wake-up call. Some 5000 people work in Virginia's coal mines.And West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller says the state's Congressional delegation will receive a briefing on the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion later this week from federal investigators.
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