Third Miner Death at Alpha This Year, Business as Usual
AP International dutifully reports the discovery of a miner's body in a flooded Alpha Metallurgical Resources mine (AP, 2025-11-13). This incident marks the third death at an Alpha facility in West Virginia this year alone. The narrative attributes the flooding to an 'unknown pocket of water' and a 'compromised' old mine wall, painting a picture of unfortunate circumstances. What the AP neglects
to highlight is that Alpha Metallurgical Resources reported an operating income of $1.1 billion in 2022, fueled by rising coal prices. Critics argue (as widely available in investigative journalism, such as from the Charleston Gazette-Mail archives) that 'compromised' walls and 'unknown pockets' are often euphemisms for cost-cutting measures and neglected safety protocols, which historically
follow periods of increased demand and profit. One might wonder: how many 'unknown pockets' does it take before safety is prioritized over the bottom line?