i want to begin with a statement that is on the massey website. it says its company, this is company wide, had an all time best safety record. it also notes sixth consecutive year, 17 of the past 20 years in which massey s safety performance was stronger than the industry average. it also lists some awards for safety. none of them at the mine in question. let s take a closer look at the violations. this is the upper big branch south mine. this is where the men died in the explosion. 240 citations back in 2000. 156. you see the numbers here. we get closer here. 197. there was a drop in 2008. it dropped to 515 citations last year. so far in the first quarter of this year, 124 citations, including new citations we re told of tonight, issued on the day of the explosion. here s the civil penalties the company has paid. this is the mine in question, the upper big branch south mine.
unaccounted for ranging from 19 the highest than that, the latest number we have is 19. ladies and gentlemen, here is rachel maddow. good evening, rachel. good evening, keith. thank you for that. and thanks to you at home for staying with us at the next hour. breaking news tonight out of west virginia, about 30 miles south of charleston, which is the capital city of west virginia, there has been an explosion. it was this afternoon at the upper big branch south mine. it has left seven miners dead, 19 miners unaccounted for. one injured miner is reportedly in intensive care tonight, and the charleston area medical center says it is preparing for more patients. rescue efforts reportedly in full effect this hours a family members gather for news at the nearby whitesville elementary school. this mine is operated by performance coal company. performance coal company is a subsidiary of a larger company called massey energy. massey is actually the largest coal producer in central ap lash sha
gentlemen, here is rachel maddow. good evening, rachel. good evening, keith. thank you for that. and thanks to you at home for staying with us at the next hour. breaking news tonight out of west virginia, about 30 miles south of charleston which is the capital city of west virginia, there has been an explosion. it was this afternoon at the upper big branch south mine. it has left seven miners dead, one injured miner is reportedly in intensive care tonight, and the charleston area medical center says it is preparing for more patients. rescue efforts reportedly in full effect as family members gather at the nearby whitesville elementary school. this mine is operated by performance coal company. performance coal company is a subsidiary of a larger company called massey energy. massey is actually the largest coal producer in central ap lash sha. five rescue teams from massey and conso are on the scene, as