Methane Leak from Leer Mine Triggers House Explosion, Parts of Mine Shut

On April 5, 2025, a severe explosion in Thornton, West Virginia, left a woman critically injured after methane gas—believed to have leaked from the nearby Leer Mine—ignited inside her home. The mine, operated by Core Natural Resources, lies directly beneath the residence. Officials suspect the gas was sparked by a cigarette lighter. State environmental inspectors confirmed methane levels inside the home were within explosive range. In response, regulators suspended mining under residential areas where coal seams lie within 400 feet of the surface, pending stricter methane monitoring requirements. The blast echoes prior methane-related incidents in the same community.