A large amount of water is seen in the roadway at Orange Creek Avenue near Holden on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. The water is the result of the “blowout†of a nearby abandoned mine.
A large amount of water is seen in the roadway at Orange Creek Avenue near Holden on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. The water is the result of the “blowout†of a nearby abandoned mine.
A large amount of water is seen in the roadway at Orange Creek Avenue near Holden on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. The water is the result of the “blowout†of a nearby abandoned mine.
DYLAN VIDOVICH | HD Media
HOLDEN — The weekend’s torrential rainfall that flooded southern West Virginia resulted in the blowout of an old coal mine in the Holden area of Logan County Monday evening.
A blowout occurs when an abandoned mine fills with water and ruptures, causing it to flow freely out of any mine openings. That’s what happened at Orange Creek Avenue — located along Holden Road near Price Bottom — Monday evening at around 5:20 p.m.
The event sent a large amount of water gushing out of the old mine into several yards and into the roadway, forcing crews to close Holden Road in that area. Cora Volunteer Fire Department Chief Steven Hepler said two properties were affected by the water, which resulted in a debris covering the area.
No water got in any structure, Hepler said, but is still flowing from the mine.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Tuesday morning the flow had slowed.
Hepler said Holden Road could potentially be closed for days as the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection works to mitigate the issue. Hepler also said water will likely continue flowing for days.
A large amount of water is seen in the roadway at Orange Creek Avenue near Holden on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. The water is the result of the “blowout†of a nearby abandoned mine.
STEVEN HEPLER | Courtesy photo
“The DEP, the guy I talked to said that they’re talking about bringing in some concrete barriers to divert the water away from the homes and potentially put a large culvert drain across the main road to where the road can be opened back up,†Hepler said.
Hepler said the DEP suspects the mine to be the former Island Creek No. 2 mine, which has been abandoned for decades.
Motorists looking to travel through Holden can use U.S. 119 as an alternate route. All three exits — Whitman Junction, Copperas Fork and Holden — are open.
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