US Mine Safety and Health Administration spokesperson Amy Louviere told ILN the most recent roof fall was July 25, and it occurred inby the face in the No. 2 headgate outby a first fall earlier this month.

It fell in an intersection and extended 20 to 30 feet back in all four directions of the intersection, she said. MSHA issued a closure order on Monday so that supplemental roof-to-floor supports can be installed.

“Mining may resume on a limited basis once the areas of greatest concern have been re-supported while they install even more support,” she said.

“The extent of the additional support is yet to be determined.”

The other two falls occurred on July 18 and July 22.

The first was 160ft long and alongside a 200ft long pillar in the No. 2 headgate entry inby the face near the gob.

The second fall was in the mains, where the roof had been cut down for existing overcasts.

“The roof above the in-place overcasts failed and ventilation was disrupted when this fall occurred to a development section inby,” Louviere said.

No injuries were reported from any of the roof falls.

MSHA officials, including inspectors and engineers, are on site at the 220-worker Bull Mountain mine, which is owned by FirstEnergy and Boich Group of Ohio.

Louviere said the company must submit a roof control plan to federal officials and it must be approved before the closure order would be modified or terminated.

Signal Peak Energy president John DeMichiei told the Associated Press he did not have an anticipated restart date for the mine.

He said that the producer was committed to making improvements to prevent recurring roof problems.

He also said that the collapses were in an area where mining had been completed.