Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion Remembered in Annual Ceremony

16 years after the tragedy that claimed 29 lives, the community gathers to honor the miners lost.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:23am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a miner's helmet with a cracked visor, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the tragic loss of life in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion.A solemn remembrance of the 29 miners killed in the 2010 Upper Big Branch disaster, whose lives were tragically cut short in an explosion that shook an entire community.Beckley Today

The 29 miners killed in the 2010 explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia were remembered in an annual ceremony held in Beckley on April 6, 2026. Family, friends, and community members gathered to honor each of the victims, including 40-year-old Steven Harrah, whose sister Terry Ellison said the ceremony would mean a lot to him. Mick Bates, former Chairman of the Beckley Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, stated that the tragedy deeply affected the entire region, as the miners were integral parts of the community.

Why it matters

The Upper Big Branch Mine explosion was one of the deadliest mining disasters in recent history, sparking outrage over lax safety regulations and prompting sweeping reforms in the industry. This annual ceremony serves as a solemn remembrance of those lost and a reminder of the human toll of unsafe working conditions.

The details

On April 5, 2010, an explosion ripped through the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, killing 29 miners. Every year since, the community has gathered in Beckley to honor the victims, reading their names and ringing a bell for each one. The ceremony is a deeply personal event for families like that of Steven Harrah, whose sister Terry Ellison says the remembrance would mean a great deal to him. Mick Bates, a local business leader at the time, recalls the tragedy's widespread impact, as the miners were integral parts of the community.

  • The Upper Big Branch Mine explosion occurred on April 5, 2010.
  • The annual remembrance ceremony was held on April 6, 2026, 16 years after the disaster.

The players

Steven Harrah

A 40-year-old miner who was killed in the 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine explosion.

Terry Ellison

The older sister of Steven Harrah, who says the annual ceremony would have meant a lot to her brother.

Mick Bates

The former Chairman of the Beckley Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, who stated that the Upper Big Branch tragedy deeply affected the entire region.

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What they’re saying

“He would appreciate it. All the miners should always be remembered on this day. We live with it every day and their children. But the people that show up today and the ones that love them, they'll never forget it.”

— Terry Ellison, Sister of victim Steven Harrah

“It touched everybody. You know, everybody knew somebody, directly, indirectly, who were involved in rescue and recovery efforts. These men, they had families, they went to church, you know, they were involved in teaching, coaching little league. They were part of the community, not just Raleigh County, but in the surrounding counties and they were just erased from the earth, they were gone.”

— Mick Bates, Former Chairman, Beckley Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce

The takeaway

The annual Upper Big Branch Mine remembrance ceremony serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of unsafe working conditions and the resilience of a community that has endured unimaginable tragedy. Even 16 years later, the pain of the loss remains, but the ceremony provides a chance for healing and honoring the memory of those who were taken too soon.