The US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported 72 mining deaths in 2001, the lowest number since the federal government began keeping records in 1910.

Of these 42 deaths were reported in coal mines and 30 in other mines. The slight increase in coal mining deaths, up from 38 in 2000, was offset by a reduction in fatalities in copper, gold, stone and other types of mines, down from 47, MSHA director Dave Lauriski said.

Alabama had the highest coal mine fatalities last year with 14, followed by West Virginia with 13. Kentucky had five deaths. Indiana, Ohio and Virginia each had two coal mining deaths, while Arkansas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Texas each had one.

Nationally, more than 100 coal miners died in mine accidents each year through the 1970s, but the numbers have declined since then, reaching a low of 29 deaths in 1998.