Two miners were killed in a West Virginia coal mine after the roof collapsed Monday night, officials said.
The bodies of miners Eric Legg, 48, and Gary Hensley, 46, were recovered in the accident at the Brody Mine in Boone County, according to NBC affiliate WSAZ.
Officials said a "coal outburst" — which involved the violent spewing of rock and coal from the mine — led to "ground failure" around 8:30 p.m.
"Rescue efforts later determined that the miners did not survive," Brody Mining LLC said in a statement.
State inspectors were at the scene, and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration is conducting a full investigation.
The MSHA put Brody Mine on notice last year after a pattern of violations of mandatory health and safety standards.
The mine was cited for 253 violations during a nine-month period — actions that officials found could result in injury or illness for miners, the MSHA reported.
This year, the mine was cited for a preliminary 147 infractions — the most recent on May 7 regarding tethers used during evacuations for mine emergencies. Some of the violations have not yet been assessed and are pending hearings, appeals and other actions.