According to state safety officials the mining company allegedly initially reported the two workers at its Boone County operation were okay after being trapped but were later pronounced dead.

The St Louis-based company initially gave state and federal officials similar reports that did not mention fatalities at the mine.

In the company’s first call to the officials on Monday, Patriot Coal safety manager Justin Ray reportedly said the miners were “OK at this point”

Government and company officials later said the Brody Mine No.1 workers were killed during a severe coal burst.

State safety officials said Ray was at home when he called the state’s emergency line at 8:47pm. Ray called the federal line just beforehand.

The first federal mine safety inspectors arrived at 10:05pm.

By 11pm, the Mine Safety and Health Administration learned the two men had died.

The safety officials said the report did not necessarily change how officials responded.

“The fact that they’re trapped, that still is something that makes us respond,” West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training director Eugene White said.

State and federal mine officials are still investigating.