Scientist Made First 911 Call About Mine

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A seismologist who detected ground tremors was the first to notify authorities of the cave-in that trapped six miners, even before mine officials called for an ambulance, according to 911 recordings.

University of Utah seismologist Walter Arabasz made his call about a potential problem at the Crandall Canyon mine early on Aug. 6, four minutes before mine officials made their call.

The 911 tapes obtained Monday by The Associated Press showed that from the earliest moments scientists suspected the shaking came from a mine collapse, not a natural earthquake, as mine co-owner Bob Murray has maintained throughout the ordeal that has entered its fourth week.

''Just from the general character of the seismic event, it looks like it might be a coal-mining event,'' Arabasz said on the tapes.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Utah-Mine-Collapse.html