Archbishop of Canterbury prays for coalminers

Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, has issued the following statement on the fatal flooding of a coalmine in the Swansea Valley, south Wales, which occurred Sept. 15.

“We shall be praying for all those involved in the tragedy at Gleision Colliery-the men who are trapped and their families, the rescue services and, of course, the one miner whose body has been found and his family. I hope and pray that there will be better news during the course of today; and meanwhile our thoughts are with all who are working for rescue.”

Since the archbishop made his Sept. 16 statement, three miners have been confirmed dead. Search and rescue workers continue to look for a fourth man still trapped in the Swansea Valley colliery.

The men became trapped almost 300 feet below ground after a flash flood on Thursday morning. Divers were forced to turn back at 30 metres.