Mining disaster deals a blow to coal industry

Accident could tighten fuel supply, hurt efforts to recruit workers

The blast that killed 12 miners in West Virginia has given coal mining a black eye just as the long-stagnant industry had begun turning a profit after decades of red ink.

Analysts and industry experts said Wednesday that the disaster, in which the 12 missing men were at first mistakenly reported alive, could have a negative impact on recruitment at a time when the industry is short of skilled workers.
However, they did not believe the explosion