Erroneous report turned joy into to sorrow for miners relatives

Miscommunication!

It's sad for those relatives of the miners hearing that only 1 has survived that mining tragedy instead of the reported 12. Erroneous reporting is blamed for the confusion.

Ben Hatfield, president of the International Coal Group said the erroneous information spread rapidly when people overheard cell phone calls between rescuers and the rescue command center.

Several relatives fainted when they were informed of the miner's death by company officials and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin during an early evening briefing inside the Sago Baptist Church. Others rushed ashen-faced from the scene, uncertain of the identity of the dead miner, each fearing he was a loved one.

Link via LATimes

The erroneous report only added to the rage felt by tired, angry and devastated relatives of those miners who are now feared dead.